Archaeology
Indigenous Solar Observatory (Guarani sundial)
Replica of an indigenous sundial at Ponta da Vigia, at the start of the Casqueiro trail.
From the Residencial: About 16.8 km by car
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Photos: Ilustração do site, não é foto do local.
On September 23, 2007, at the spring equinox, astronomer Germano Afonso, a retired UFPR professor, unveiled at Ponta da Vigia the reconstruction of an indigenous solar observatory. According to him, the original structures in Garopaba were probably made by the Guarani, and he found four possible stone gnomons in the area.
At the center stands a vertical monolith about 80 cm tall, the gnomon. Its shadow, falling on a dial of stones about 5 m across that marks the cardinal points, shows the time of day and the start and end of the seasons.
Points of interest
- Gnomon: the monolith of about 80 cm whose shadow marks the hours and seasons.
- Vigia viewpoint: on the hilltop, right above.
- Casqueiro Trail: starts there, along the coast to Silveira.
- Vigia Beach: the small beach next to it.
Getting there
Through Praia da Vigia, to the right of Garopaba's central beach, at the start of the Casqueiro trail, which follows the coast to Silveira Beach.
Features
An open-air dial of stones laid in a circle about 5 m across that marks the cardinal points, with a gnomon of about 80 cm in the middle, on Ponta da Vigia, facing the sea.
Things to do
See how the gnomon's shadow shows the time of day and the turn of the seasons, especially around the equinoxes and solstices, and combine it with the Vigia Viewpoint and the Casqueiro Trail, which starts there.
Safety tips
It is cultural heritage: do not move the stones. Coastal rocks can be slippery.
