From rich life to the forest

One of the best-known people in Lagoa da Italianinha is young Rafaela, who lives in the middle of the woods – literally – in the Vale dos Gatos forest reserve.

Rafaela comes from a wealthy family in Limoeiro, and since 2008, she decided to leave everything behind to live in the woods. She fell in love with wildlife and gave it all up.

Since then, Rafaela eats plants and fruits and often bathes in a lake. She always wears a white dress and goes barefoot, and sleeps looking at the sky and the stars in the middle of the woods. Living with her are Daniele, Eduardo, Lulu, and Diana, all of whom abandoned their urban lives to live in nature.

Rafaela also often goes to the city to preach that people should leave urban life and go to the woods. She often talks about Genesis, reminding people that Adam and Eve were placed in a forest, not a city.