Minas Gerais Historic Cities

05 days/ 04 nights with breakfast.
Airport/ Hotel round trip transfers;
Congonhas Do Campo, São João Del Rei and Tiradentes with lunch, Ouro Preto and Mariana with lunch, Grutas Rei Do Mato and Maquiné with lunch, and Sabará.
Other tours under request.

Belo Horizonte
Capital of Minas Gerais State. It was one of the first planned Brazilian cities. Surrounded by the Serra do Curral, the city could only receive this allusive name because of the beauty of the landscape in its highest points, and its 500 Squares, 30 parks and more than 200 green areas. The urban group of Pampulha, projected in the 40's, at the margins of the artificial pond, it is composed by beautiful examples of Niemeyer's vanguard architecture, valued by the gardens of Burle Marx, the paintings of Portinari and the sculptures of Ceschiatti, Zamoiski and José Pedrosa. Belo Horizonte is proud to be one of the best cities in the Country to live. It has wide avenues, squares and forested areas, delighting everyone who visits. Fondly nicknamed Belô or Beagá, the city offers interesting leisure areas, theaters boasting an intense artistic-cultural production, good and varied cuisine, exquisite handcrafts available on the markets and specialized stores, and maintains a traditional characteristic: the mineira hospitality. The city is currently a dynamic metropolis, with 2,5 million residents. Considering the municipalities forming the Metropolitan Region, this population goes up to four million residents.

Congonhas do Campo
The City has the largest collection of Antônio Francisco Lisboa. In Congonhas do Campo, The art of Minas' Baroque, became sublime and eternal because of the genius, Aleijadinho. The Prophets, Passos' Chapels with the images of the Sacred Road, and the Basilica do Bom Jesus dos Matosinhos, attract for its magnificence, as assemblage, above all the Prophets and Passos' images, provoke an intense dramatic impression, as if the great artist had discharged his rioted emotion and his brilliant talent to say good-bye to the art and to his own life.
The name Congonhas comes from the type of vegetation found in the fields, a plant the Indians called the Congõi, which in Tupi means "that which sustains, that which nourishes." Nothing more suggestive. Located in a valley and surrounded by impressive mountains, today the city feeds the soul of those who wish to relive a golden era. The architectonic and artistic complex of the Bom Jesus dos Matosinhos Basílica was recognized as a Cultural Heritage of Humanity by Unesco in 1985. The city was also the birthplace of the Marist works in Brazil. Congonhas do Campo was an important mining center and large fortunes were extracted from it. Some of the gold nuggets taken from the mine called Bataeiro (Potato Field) were the size of potatoes. In 1796, the power of the gold brought the already renowned sculptor, Aleijadinho, to the then district called Congonhas. And there he left for posterity the most concrete manifestation of the grandiosity of his art. The city also became famous in the 1960s because of the cures being performed by the medium called Zé Arigó, who incorporated the spirit of the German doctor, Fritz. People from every corner of Brazil and all over the world converged upon Congonhas in search of healing.

Attractions

Steps of the Last SupperThis was the first one built to house the images in cedar from Lebanon. It was the only one raised during Aleijadinho’s stay in Congonhas do Campo, and it is believed to have been under his direction. The scene is dramatic and it reflects the perplexity of the apostles when faced with Christ’s revelation: "In truth I tell you, one of you shall betray me." Each declares his innocence.

Steps of the Garden
This portrays Jesus in the Garden of Olives. This chapel holds an Aleijadinho masterpiece: the angel. It symbolizes the approaching Passion, and it bears a chalice of bile in its right hand.

Steps of Prison
This represents one of the most famous episodes of the Bible, the miraculous cure of Malcon, the soldier of Jerusalem’s supreme pontiff.

Steps of Flagellation and the Crown of Thorns
At this point, two scenes are set side by side. At the moment of flagellation, Christ appears semi-nude, with salient bones and veins. With the Crown, He is wrapped in a tunic and seated on a cold stone, held up by a green cane, a present from a Roman soldier to ridicule the scepter of the King of Jews.

Steps of the Climb to Calvary
This portrays a moment during Christ’s walk to Calvary, the "Encounter with the Daughters of Jerusalem", described in the Gospel by Saint Luke.

Prophets
In 1800, after finishing the 66 cedar statues for the steps, Aleijadinho began his work on the church plaza. This took five years of arduous work by the master, already very debilitated from leprosy, and his disciples. The group of 12 prophets in soap stone is the most famous set of baroque statues in the world.

Mother Church of Our Lady of Conception
Dated from 1734, several baroque phases can be observed in its conception.

The city has many other monuments, attractions and works, such as: chapels and churches of the 18th Century, other steps of the Passion of Christ and the Cachoeira Park (located 5.3 km from the center, with complete leisure infrastructure, including various natural water pools, courts, grass fields, campground, barbeque areas, restaurant, snack bar and ice cream shop).

São João Del Rei
It is Known as the "Capital dos Inconfidentes" due to the movements pro-freedom of the War of Emboabas, of the Liberal Revolution of 1842 and of the Inconfidência Mineira (a movemnt against the government of that time). In spite of the development, São João del Rei still maintains some Baroque characteristics in its architecture represented by the group of monuments preserved by history, such as the houses of Santo Antônio's Street, (Casa da Ópera) the Opera House, Basilica do Pilar and architectural assemblage of São Francisco de Assis' Church.. It still preserves, some habits of the colonial period, such as the one of announcing, through the bells of the churches, all the important events of the community, besides maintaining revitalized the Baroque orchestras Ribeiro Bastos and Lira Sanjoanense.
São João Del’Rei’s unique formation, which evolved from a mining village to an important commercial pole in the Campo das Vertentes region, is responsible for its most remarkable characteristic: it is possible to appreciate the urban evolution of a colonial village whose historic nucleus remains preserved in harmony with eclectic constructions from the 19th Century and the changes that occurred in the 20th Century.

The city’s neighboring areas are also rich in attractions. There are caverns, waterfalls, and trails that enchant by their beauty and show the trails traveled by São João Del’Rey’s founders.

Attractions

São João Del’Rey Railroad History Preservation Center
A complex of totally restored old buildings that served the old Minas West Railroad – EFOM, created through a provincial concession in 1872, with the name of Western Railroad.

Train Station Building
Inaugurated on August 28, 1881, it is a beautiful iron structure with fine finishing. Today, it is still used as a train station.

Railroad Museum
The original function of the building where the museum is located was to serve as a storage area for railroad cargo. Many relics are kept there, including the Number 1 locomotive. It was inaugurated on August 28, 1981, to celebrate the centennial of the Minas Western Railroad’s first section. Dom Pedro II and Empress Tereza Cristina were passengers on its inaugural trip.

Our Lady of Carmo Church
One of the most remarkable temples in São João Del’Rey is the Church of Carmo’s 3rd Order. The first references to its construction date from 1734, when the main chapel was blessed. The construction took more than a century.

São João Del’Rei Regional Museum
It is set up in one of the most imposing houses in São João Del’Rey. This house was built in 1859 to be Commander João Antõnio Silva Mourão’s family residence. The process for preserving the house as a cultural heritage started in the beginning of the 40s, but the owners sold it to a construction company that started to demolish it to construct a hotel in its place. IPHAN was able to stop the demolition, saving the building in August 1946.

Shopping

Tin Pieces
Tea and coffee sets, candle holders and vases, among other tin pieces, are the city’s main products. The most traditional factory is John Sommers, which offers visits to its production sector and to the Tin Museum, annexed to the store.

Wooden Sculptures
In Prados (28 km / 17 miles), the Julião family became internationally famous for its life-size wooden animals and columns of entwined animals. The most famous are the Antônio cousins, who have an atelier at the entrance to the city, and Márcio, who works in the Caraça district. The artisans from the Mãe Esperança district make the same type of sculpture. In São João Del’Rey, the Silva brothers produce furniture, animals, images, relics, oratories, and altars for churches. Santa Cruz de Minas also has a production of animals, furniture, and oratories on Min. Gabriel Passos Avenue. Most of the artisans’ works are made to order.

Works in Looms
In Resende Costa (36 km / 22 miles) the population works with manual looms, making bedspreads, sofa throws, rugs and curtains.

Abrolhos, cachaça (sugar cane rum) and sculptures
In Coronel Xavier Chaves (15 km / 10 miles) women have brought back the abrolhos tradition, a type of hand weaved lace. Tray doilies, dish towels and other products are found for sale at the Artisans Association. At the Boa Vista Mill, built in 1755, there is a sampling of cachaça. During the week, it is also possible to see the grinder and the alembic. The sculptor David, whose style was influenced by Aleijadinho, sells pieces made of soapstone and granite in his house, at the entrance to the city.

Tiradentes
Far 18km from São João del Rei, a city called Tiradentes, preserves important architectural assemblage and its main streets lead us to the most beautiful church of Minas Gerais, Santo Antônio's Church, that through the wealth of its gold cut and of the beautiful and delicate pipe organ, it is equaled to the richest churches from Bahia Baroque. The Fountain of São José, most notable example in the whole country, and Priest Toledo's House also deserve distinction.
In the churches, the baroque art can be seen on altars and images sculpted by artisans. On its stone streets, where slaves, farmers and explorers have strolled, until today there are processions and religious celebrations such as Holy Week and the Holy Trinity Jubilee (Jubileu da Santíssima Trindade).

Besides all this baroque richness spread throughout the city, Tiradentes also offers its visitors the natural beauties of the São José Mountain Range, with its waterfalls and beautiful view of the city.

Attractions

Saint Anthony Church
The church originated from a wooden chapel in 1702, the time of the first explorers. Its definitive construction started in 1710. The church was open 20 years later. The present façade is believed to be Aleijadinho’s last work (1810). It is considered one of Brazil’s most beautiful baroque temples, with seven perfectly engraved altars in the best D.João V style. It is worth noting the rococo organ, from 1788. It was bought in the city of Porto (Portugal) and has 630 pipes.

Church of Our Lady of Rosary of the Black People
The construction is in granite and it has a renaissance style. It is believed to be the most solid structure in the city. It replaced the old chapel, which was from the beginning of the 18th century.

Our Lady of Mercy Church
The chapel was constructed in rococo style at the end of the 18th century. It belonged to the Black Creole Fraternity, those who were born in Brazil. It is located on the beautiful Mercy Public Square, gateway to the city’s oldest nucleus.

Chamber House
This is a beautiful model of 18th Century architecture. It has an ample balcony that was added on afterwards, with wooden and stone arcades and columns in Spanish style.

City Hall Building
This impressive construction is three stories high and it dates from the end of the 18th century. It is located on Emancipation Square. This is where the City’s Tourism Department and Post Office are located.

Padre Toledo
This is the Parochial House where the leader of the Death River region Inconfidentes (Minas Conspiracy) lived, Father Carlos Correia Toledo e Melo. The house has 16 rooms, and 10 of them have their ceilings painted to emphasize the “Five Senses”. Today, the museum houses Mestre Ataíde’s furniture pieces and paintings.

A Trip on the “Smoking Mary”
The trip takes us back to the past. The route is what is left of the West Minas Railroad, inaugurated by D. Pedro II in 1881. The American steam locomotive dates from the beginning of the 20th century and it is in excellent working condition. The train takes you from Tiradentes to São João Del Rey on an unforgettable 13 km (9 mile) journey. It takes approximately half an hour.

Shopping

Sweets
Since 1965, Sweetmaker Chico has been making milk, coconut, ambrosia, and the famous cashew candies. The shop is located on Rua Francisco Padre de Moraes, 74.

Crafted Knives
The Russian Zacarowiskyni family has been producing Burza knives by hand for nine generations. They use steel imported from Europe. It is located on the Rua da Chafariz, 90.

Arts and Crafts
Most of the arts and crafts sold in Tiradentes stores is produced in other neighboring cities, such as São João Del Rey (tin), Resende Costa (manual weavers) and Prados (wooden sculptures). In the downtown streets, there are many painting, sculpting and engraving ateliês. In the Bichinho district, 7 km (4.5 miles – 4 miles on dirt road) from the city one can find the Agosto Shop, where the artist Toti and a group of artisans produce paintings, furniture, and sculptures with material collected from demolitions (You can find them for sale in Tiradentes at Inês Rabelo Arte). Another attraction in Bichinho is the artisan Mauro Gonçalves who makes furniture out of branches, vines and leather strips.

Ouro Preto
Considered by UNESCO as "World Monument of the Baroque". It is full of legends and mysteries, in which architecture the squared elements prevail, twin houses with roof edges, windows, balconies and doors forming a harmonious succession of facades, slopes and alleys that reserve surprising angles of beautiful constructions, that go back in time to the luxury of the " cycle of the gold " and the importance of a past of glories. Ouro Preto To walk through the steep and narrow streets of Ouro Preto – that still keep the original stone pavement – is like taking a stroll in time. Former Capital of the State of Minas Gerais, Ouro Preto attracts tourists from all over Brazil and the world who want to know our history and Aleijadinho’s and Ataíde’s sacramental art, as well as the local arts and crafts and the typical food from Minas Gerais. The city was granted the title of Cultural Heritage of Humanity by Unesco.

Winter Festival
The Winter Festival is held in July, with musical shows, theatrical shows, several kinds of exhibitions and art workshops.

Holy Week
During this time, streets are adorned with carpets made of colored saw dust and flowers, representing the Way of the Cross lived by Jesus – a Catholic Church tradition. It usually takes place in the month of April, but because the date changes, the correct days are defined annually.

Carnival
Groups formed by student communities parade through the city. It takes place every February and attracts crowds interested in watching the merrymaking of Ouro Preto’s citizens.

Attractions

Churches

Our Lady of Pilar Church
This church’s project, considered one of baroque’s most exquisite, is attributed to Pedro Gomes Chaves. The engraving on the main chapel was made by Francisco Xavier de Brito. The collection also includes an engraving covered with gold and more than 400 sculpted angels. Its ornamentation used 400 kilos of gold and 400 kilos of silver.

Our Lady of Carmo
The project was by Manoel Francisco Lisboa, Aleijadinho’s father, and it was constructed between 1766 and 1772. Vila Rica aristocracy attended it regularly.

Our Lady of the Rosary
It is a rare example of Mineiro baroque, with its circular façade. Its construction, which started in 1785, replaced the primitive chapel. The interior is very simple, contrasting with its external aspect, evoking black saints.

Saint Francis of Assisi
This is the most famous church in Ouro Preto, and it is one of the most magnificent examples of Mineiro baroque. Its construction started in 1766. It is also considered Aleijadinho’s masterpiece. He was responsible for the building’s general drawing, portals, main altar pulpit, lateral altars and main chapel.

Our Lady of Conception Church
Its construction lasted from 1727 to 1746. Manuel Francisco Lisboa, Aleijadinho’s father, was in charge of its project and execution. They are both buried in the church. The Aleijadinho Museum is annexed to it.

Saint Francis of Paula
This was the last church built during the colonial period. Its construction started in 1804. The image of its patron, which can be seen at the Aleijadinho Museum, is attributed to the master. There is a beautiful view of the city from its plaza.

Saint Iphigenia or Our Lady of the Rosary from Alto da Cruz Church
Its construction lasted 60 years – between 1730 and 1790. Manuel Francisco Lisboa participated in the project, as well as Francisco Xavier de Brito, author of the engraving on the main chapel. Tradition says it was built thanks to the gold from the Encardideira Mine, acquired by Chico Rei. On its façade there are the oldest stone clocks in the city.

Our Lady of Mercy and Compassion
This church was built between 1771 and 1793. The central tower was a project by Manuel Francisco de Araujo.

Saint Joseph
This belonged to the artist’s association. The main chapel and tower retable are Aleijadinho’s drawings. It was built between 1730 and 1811.

Saint John the Baptist Chapel
This is the oldest church in Ouro Preto, built by determination of Antonio Dias, Brazilian explorer, in 1698.

Museums

House of Tales
Dated from 1782 to 1787, it was constructed by João Rodrigues de Macedo, a tax collector from the Minas Province, who decided to live there as well as manage its business. It had many uses, including a prison for the conspiracy members. Today it houses the Center for Study of the Gold Cycle, the Mint and National Treasury Museum and the Ouro Preto Federal Revenue Agency and a Gallery.

School of Minas Science and Technical Museum
This was founded in 1877, as a Mining Museum by Claude Henri Gorceix, founder of the School of Minas. In 1995, it was expanded and became the School of Minas Science and Technical Museum. Nine sectors have already been implemented: Natural History – zoology and paleontology -, Mining, Mineralogy, Metallurgy, Iron and Steel Metallurgy, Design, Topography, Astronomy and Electro-Technical. There are more than 30 thousand pieces from all over the world.

Oratory Museum
Located in the old Novitiate house, the museum combines different styles of pieces that rescue the traditional religious customs of the Minas families.

Conspiracy Museum
The construction was initiated in 1784 by the City Hall, during Luis Cunha Menezes’ government. The work was interrupted several times, thus the building was finished only in 1846. It was used as the city government and a prison. In 1944, the Museum was inaugurated, and its collection gathers documents and objects that evoke the Inconfidência Mineira (Conspiracy) and several works of Minas Gerais Historic and Artistic Heritage. The conspiracy members’ mortal remains rest there. The Museum also has an annexed auditorium and the Manuel de Ataíde Room, for temporary exhibits.

Shopping
Local arts and crafts are rich in soap stone objects, like vases, ashtrays, jewelry boxes, plates and cups. These can be found in the city as well as in neighboring districts like Santa Rita and Mata dos Palmitos. Another of the region’s specialties includes the gold and precious stone jewelry, especially the rare imperial topaz. There are good antique and souvenir shops, as well as local artisan galleries spread throughout the city.

Mariana
Cradle of the education in Minas Gerais and headquarter of the first Bishopric, the tri-centenary Mariana city, it is a very religious city and they live for the church. It has been considered "National Monument" since 1945 and it is the only one city of the colonial period with urban planned traces. It was where Manoel da Costa Ataíde, the largest painter of Minas's Baroque, considered together with Aleijadinho the two greatest artistic expressions of the XVIII century.

Attractions

Sé Basilica or Our Lady of Assumption Cathedral
The Cathedral, with its simple architecture, just like the first Minas religious constructions, is part of a group of the most important and richest Minas churches. Its construction started in the beginning of the 18th century with the building of the primitive Our Lady of Conception chapel.

Saint Francis of Assisi Church
The mortal remains of Master Ataíde”s, born in Mariana, are kept in the church. The church”s nave and sacristy pictures, as well as the three images of the Passion (tabernacle, main altar, and Saint Isabel altar) were made by the artist. Aleijadinho left his influence on the bell towers and the façade line and on the soapstone pulpits.

Other churches and chapels
Mariana has an enormous number of churches and historical chapels that attract tourists for their beauty and symbolism. They are: Our Lady of Carmo, Our Lady of the Rosary, Saint Peter of the Clerics, the Saint Francis of Cordões Archibrotherhood, Our Lady of Mercy, Saint Anthony Chapel, Saint Ann Chapel, Our Lady of the Good Death Chapel, Lord of Passos Chapel, Good Jesus of the Hill, Saint Caetano, Our Lady of Conception, Saint Teresa and Our Lady of Glory.

Barão de Pontal House
Its precious balconies are laced in soapstone, the only ones in Minas Gerais and perhaps Brazil. It was the residence of Manoel Inácio de Melo e Sousa, the Baron of Pontal, representative and president of the Minas Gerais province from 1831 to 1833.

Mine Passage
What is read in books about the gold exploration in Minas Gerais can be seen in the Mine Passage. To visit it is like traveling through history, living the saga and the dangerous destiny of men who were looking for gold in the mountains. From the beginning of its activities in the first half of the 19th century, until 1984, 35 tons of the precious metal were taken from this mine alone. It has ample rooms, 30 kilometers of tunnels and underground lakes with crystal clear waters, where people can practice scuba diving in the cave.

Pillory (Pelourinho)
The constructions are in the Minas Gerais Square and served as Jurisdiction Marks on which infringers were punished. Mariana”s original Pillory was made by José Moreira Matos in 1750 and it was demolished in 1871. The newer one was constructed in the 1970s. It has a globe on top, symbolizing the Portuguese sea victories. The left arm holds a scale representing Justice. The right one holds a sword, symbolizing condemnation. In the center there is the Portuguese Coat of Arms.

Museums
Mariana has two important museums. At the Archdiocesan it is possible to find a fabulous collection of objects used in religious ceremonies attributed to Aleijadinho and Manuel da Costa Ataíde. There are sculptures, silverware, furniture, jewelry, dresses, and paintings. The Alphonsus de Guimaraens Museum preserves the personal objects, files and library of the poet, writer and judge.

Shopping

Arts and Crafts Fair
The city has several types of arts and crafts that attract tourists for their beauty and perfection. The most requested are the pita rugs, the soapstone pans and the wooden sculptures. The fair is located in the city bus station and besides the arts and crafts it also offers sweets, liqueurs, cachaça, jellies, cheeses and butter directly from local producers.

Ateliês and Shops
Paintings, sculptures, and engravings can be found in the ateliês on the downtown city streets. Some of the highlights include Álvaro”s sacred sculptures (Gomes Freire Square, 48), Hélio Petrus” neo-baroque saints and engravings (R. Don Silvério, 122), Ladim Gamarano”s furniture (Rua João Pinheiro, 22), Zizi Sapateiro”s primitive paintings (Rua Santana, 52) and Layon”s canvas and baroque sculptures (Rua Don Silvério, 604).

Sculptures, rugs and soapstone
At the Cachoeira do Brumado district (23 km = 14 miles), Adão de Lourdes and Miramar Borges sculpt tailor-made wooden animals. The sisal rugs, produced by locals on a manual weave, can be found at the Tapeçaria Miriã. Preto”s factory sells soapstone pans and pizza pans. Because there are no signs indicating the street names, it is best to ask for information about how to get to the ateliês.

Gruta Rei do Mato
Located in the municipal district of Sete Lagoas, it is one of the most beautiful grottos of the country with beautiful formations in calcite. The calcite is usually white or transparent, getting tonalities and different colors because of the impurities and the presence of other minerals, giving to the grotto a magnificent color, besides of presenting some columns of medium diameter from 20 to 30 cm and 20 meters of height, comparable, only, to the Grotto of Altamira, in Spain.

Cordisburgo
It is the eminent writer Guimarães Rosa's birthplace and the Grotto of Maquiné - also known as Nova Lapa de Maquiné. It is considered the cradle of the Brazilian paleontology and the naturalist Danish, Peter Lund, explored it scientifically in 1834. It possesses 650 meters of galleries and living rooms approximately and it was formed by the millenarian action of the waters on the calcareous rock favoring the formation of calcite deposits, which receive the denomination of speleothems, being the most important, the stalactites, stalagmites, columns, curtains, travertine dams, etc.

Sabará
It is the golden reality of a green dream that vanished: It was originated from the gold found in the green stones route, the supposed emeralds of the legendary " bright mountains ". With the acme of the exploration of the gold, the city started to develop selected taste for Arts, especially music and theater, dramatic literature and popular poetry, Its Opera House was considered the most important of the colony. Sabará, has the honor of being the only Brazilian municipal district to receive, through An Imperial Letter the title of " The most faithful". Its churches represent the splendor and wealth of the most selected Baroque.

Attractions

Our Lady of the Rosary Church
Work began in 1768 and it portrays the faith and strength of the African Negro. The slaves decided to build their own church, but the decline in gold mine activity did not permit it to be completed.

Our Lady of Carmo Church
This is one of the most spectacular stages for the art and geniality of Antônio Francisco Lisboa, the Aleijadinho. The images of San Juan de La Cruz, Saint Simon Stock and the Atlantes are attributed to the artist.

Saint Francis of Assisi Church
Before its construction, the site was home to a simple, rustic chapel dedicated to Our Lady Queen of the Angels, to whom Saint Francis was devoted. Work began in 1781, and truly accelerated between 1798 and 1805.

Municipal Theater
This is the second oldest theater in Brazil, and still in full operation. It has excellent acoustics and its architectonic lines are influenced by the English Theaters during the reign of Elizabeth I. That”s why it is also called the Elizabethan Theater.

Museum of Gold
This is an authentic example of crude Brazilian colonial architecture of the 18th Century (1713). This old Foundry and Magistrate House (the only construction with these characteristics still standing in Brazil) served for some time as a school. It has a permanent exhibit of sacred art and furniture pieces on the upper floor, which was the Magistrate”s residence. The ground floor is paved with round stones and it exhibits pieces related to the extraction, foundry process, coining and control of gold.

Shopping
Two arts and crafts pieces stand out in Sabará”s stores because they are typical of the city: the Baroque Palm, a type of wooden sculpture, and the Turkish Bica Lace, a type of embroidery.