Roque José da Silva and the Gold in the Mountains
The legend connects a boy who survived a shipwreck, a treasure hidden near Trindade, and the funds used to build Paraty’s main parish church.
- Legendary castaway and benefactor
- Recorded local tradition
The legend
According to local tradition, Roque José da Silva was still a boy when he survived the wreck of a pirate ship off the coast of Paraty. He made it ashore with a chest of gold and precious stones and hid the treasure in a cave near Trindade. As an adult, he returned to the hiding place whenever he needed money, became influential, and organized vessels to carry goods to Paraty’s port.
Versions and context
The account continues with his adopted daughter, Dona Geralda Maria da Silva, who is said to have inherited the fortune and donated part of it to complete the Church of Our Lady of the Remedies, on the condition that both of them be buried there. The legend offers an explanation for a fortune and a major civic project, but it is not documentary proof of where the funds came from.
Associated places
The places below appear in this version of the story.
- Paraty coast
- Trindade
- Church of Our Lady of the Remedies
Sources consulted
The sources below record the oral tradition and its context.
- CEPA — Paraty Tourism Inventory
- Diuner Mello — Paraty para o Estudante
- Comunidades de Paraty — História e Lendas de Paraty
Monthly update
September 10, 2026.
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