About

Piquete is a municipality in the state of São Paulo in Brazil. It is part of the Metropolitan Region of Vale do Paraíba e Litoral Norte. The population is 13,575 (2020 est.) in an area of 176 square kilometers. Piquete is known as “City – Landscape”, thanks to its privileged position at the foot of Serra da Mantiqueira mountain range.

Piquete is located next to the Lorena-SP – Itajubá-MG highway, it was born with the establishment of the Itajubá Registry, in November 1764, which caused the emergence, in its vicinity, of stops for drovers and travelers. Gradually, houses and gardens emerged, scattered along the way, which gave rise to spontaneous growth and the settlement of residents, giving rise to the Piquete neighborhood. In 1891 it was elevated to the status of village, and in 1915 to the city. It grew little, until the 20th century, with the arrival of the war industry in the municipality.

In 1906, after the installation of the explosives factory, the Rodrigues Alves railway station was inaugurated in the city by the Lorena-Benfica Railway, which later became known as Ramal de Piquete. In 1978, passenger traffic on the branch was suspended by the RFFSA. Then, cargo traffic would also be suspended, culminating later in the deactivation of the branch and its eradication.