Transformations in the gardens and landscapes of the historical Traituba’s Farm

Abstract

The historic garden should be considered one that has cultural significance, being not only the squares and public gardens, but also its first manifests found in the form of orchard garden and vegetable garden in the historic farms of Brazil. Traituba’s Farm located in southern Minas Gerais, on the Royal Road route, is considered an important historical farm that emerged in the eighteenth century during the settlement process of this region. It was in the same period, that current rural landscape from southern Minas Gerais, composed of several other historic farms and the historic rural gardens began their formation process. The aim of this study was to conduct a historical and cultural rescue of the gardens and landscapes of the Traituba’s Farm. With this rescue, characterize and analyze their landscapes in their different ages, as well as identify and understand the main morphological changes of its gardens included in the architectural complex of the farm. This study focused on the period between 1725 and 2013. To trace the historical, cultural and landscape evolution, it was made researches through site visits, interviews, bibliographic and iconographic research, always following the principles of studies of historic gardens. Traituba’s Farm since its formation was always a region icon, because of its wealth, power and intense trade. Its landscapes have undergone many changes and are characterized initially as a pastoral model, then the bucolic and picturesque style, after the construction of the new farmhouse. With the decline of its activities, decades later the model that remained was the picturesque and pastoral as its origin. For a long time, its gardens were presented as orchards gardens and vegetable gardens with utilitarian characteristics, influenced by the Portuguese culture. Just in 1950s the front yard received a significant intervention and new species were planted where that the design can be seen until today. The significance of this paper is due to the historical value of the Traituba’s Farm, the magnificence of its architectural ensemble, peculiarity of gardens and landscapes, and great cultural representation in the region