The park contains the largest stone sculpture of a traditional German immigrant family in Brazil.
Many sculptures are carved directly from local sandstone and basalt found in the surrounding region.
The park includes a 'Genealogy Garden' where visitors can research the surnames of early German settlers in the region.
The sculptures are arranged to tell a narrative sequence representing the chronological timeline of the arrival of German immigrants in 1824.
The park occupies a rural area that retains native Atlantic Forest vegetation.
Artist Rogério Bertoldo spent years developing the specific techniques used to detail the facial expressions and tools on the stone figures.
Sculpture Park Silent Stones, known locally as Parque Esculturas Pedras do Silêncio, is an outdoor museum located in the Rio Grande do Sul highlands that honors the German immigration history of southern Brazil. The park features over 80 hand-carved stone sculptures crafted by artist Rogério Bertoldo, distributed along a walking trail through a natural landscape. The statues depict scenes of daily life, agricultural work, and traditional customs of the early 19th-century German settlers. An open-air theater and stone-built historical architecture elements are integrated into the garden setting. The park emphasizes the cultural heritage of the 'Hunsrück' region. It serves as an educational space focused on genealogy and the historical trajectory of the immigrant families who populated the Serra Gaúcha.
The central square featuring the large 'Family of Immigrants' sculpture with the rolling green hills in the background.
Wear comfortable walking shoes as the path is composed of uneven dirt and gravel trails.
Bring an umbrella or raincoat, as the Serra Gaúcha region experiences frequent misty weather and sudden showers.
Visit the onsite genealogy center if you have family roots in the Nova Petrópolis region.
Do not rush through the trail; the historical context provided on the plaques is essential to understanding the significance of the carvings.
Open daily, including weekends and holidays; check local listings for rare maintenance closures.
Maintain a quiet tone to respect the contemplative nature of the space; do not touch or climb on the sculptures.
