Minas Gerais, a Brazilian state with a rich cultural and historical heritage, is home to some of the country’s most emblematic historic cities.
These cities boast colonial architecture, baroque churches, sacred art and a unique atmosphere reminiscent of Brazil’s gold rush.
The historic cities of Minas Gerais were built during the mining fever that gripped the country in the 18th century and lasted through the first decades of the 19th century.
The historic cities of Minas Gerais are usually grouped into two large circuits:
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Among them, Ouro Preto and Diamantina have been recognised as World Heritage Sites by UNESCO. The others, even without this formal recognition, contain real artistic and architectural treasures.
What they all have in common – preserved houses, gorgeous churches and monuments, uneven cobblestones and beautiful natural landscapes – creates a unique atmosphere where nature and history, past and present intertwine in an almost indescribable way.
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Catas Altas is a charming colonial town founded in 1712. Located 110 kilometres from Belo Horizonte, on the MG-129 and BR-381 highways, it borders Santa Bárbara, Mariana and Alvinópolis. Located at the foot of the Caraça mountain range, especially the peak of Catas Altas, at an altitude of 1,820 metres, […]
Pico do Itacolomi in the Pico do Itacolomi State Park (“Stone Child” in Tupi-Guarani), at 1772 metres, was the reference point for bandeirantes looking for gold in the hills of Minas Gerais at the end of the 15th century. Gold was eventually discovered in the streams that crisscrossed its surroundings, […]
Founded in 1674 with the arrival of the Fernão Dias flag under the command of Borba Gato, Arraial de Sabarabuçu became Vila Real de Nossa Senhora da Conceição de Sabarabuçu in 1711. The alluvial gold that flowed from the now polluted and pale Rio das Velhas gave the city a […]
For more than three hundred years, Minas Gerais supported the Portuguese crown, helped build the idea of an independent Brazilian nation and always managed to remain influential in Brazilian political decisions. In the beginning, it was the interior. In the first centuries of colonisation, the territory that we now call […]
Baroque appeared in Brazil a little later, in the 18th century. The Baroque of Minas Gerais was a peculiar version of the Baroque that developed in Minas Gerais between the 18th and 19th centuries. Architecture, Painting, Sacred Sculpture and Music played an important role in the Minas Gerais Baroque. Evoking […]
The Caraça Sanctuary Complex is the only Private Nature Reserve (RPPN) with 11.233 hectares of Enchanting Landscapes, the result of the transition between the Atlantic Forest and the Cerrado, framed by a Mountain Range with peaks over 2,000 metres high, forming part of the Serra do Espinhaço. The Serra do […]
The Serra do Cipó National Park is located in the south of the Serra do Espinhaço mountain range, in Minas Gerais. The Serra do Cipó includes the parishes of Jaboticatubas and Santana do Riacho, both of which have a good infrastructure of hotels and restaurants. The Serra do Cipó National […]
In the early days of the exploitation of the gold region, at the end of the 17th century, a long road connected the mining settlements with the port of Paraty, crossing the Mantiqueira mountain range. The journey took three months. In 1698 the bandeirante Garcia Rodrigues received authorisation to open […]
The city of Serro, known in its early days as the former Vila do Príncipe do Serro Frio, was the seat of one of the first four districts of the Captaincy of Minas Gerais. A city with preserved colonial architecture, its streets are characterised by the characteristics of the eighteenth-century […]
Diamantina is located 280 kilometres north of Belo Horizonte, via BR-040, and is the gateway to the Jequitinhonha Valley. Its formation dates back to the 18th century, when it was called Arraial do Tijuco, and it grew out of the diamond exploitation, ruthlessly controlled by the Portuguese Crown: no one […]
Modern buildings mix with colonial relics in São João del Rei, whose history begins at the end of the 17th century. In 1713, the village founded by bandeirantes on the banks of the River Mortes was elevated to the status of a town with its current name, in honour of […]
With its colonial charm and unspoilt atmosphere, Tiradentes, in Minas Gerais, is one of Brazil’s most charming destinations. Founded at the height of the gold rush, the city combines historical wealth with cultural and gastronomic attractions. Among the main tourist attractions are the Igreja Matriz de Santo Antônio, with its […]
The famous Igrejinha da Pampulha in Belo Horizonte is also known by other names, such as Igreja de São Francisco de Assis or Capela Curial de São Francisco de Assis. History and Architecture of the Little Church of Pampulha Little Church of Pampulha or Curial Chapel of St Francis of […]
The Church of St Francis of Assisi, located in Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, is considered one of the masterpieces of Brazilian Baroque. During the colonial period, no city grew as much and as fast as the curvaceous Ouro Preto in Minas Gerais. The abundance of gold and precious metals meant […]
Aleijadinho is considered the greatest representative of the Minas Gerais Baroque style, known for his soapstone sculptures, wood carvings, altars and churches. Biography of Antônio Francisco Lisboa or Aleijadinho Antônio Francisco Lisboa (1738-1814), better known by his nickname Aleijadinho, was born in Ouro Preto, the capital of colonial Minas Gerais. […]
The Sanctuary of Bom Jesus de Matosinhos, one of the most valuable monuments in the world, is located in the city of Congonhas, in the central region of Minas Gerais. Geniuses such as Aleijadinho and Mestre Ataíde not only created true masterpieces, but also promoted a remarkable fusion of the […]
The city of Mariana, in Minas Gerais, is one of the most important historical cities on the Gold Route. Together with its districts, it contains valuable relicts from the colonial period, which marked the beginning of the construction of the state’s history. Mariana was the first capital of Minas Gerais, […]
Ouro Preto, a World Heritage Site, is one of the most important tourist destinations in Brazil. With its baroque churches, colonial mansions and rich cultural life, the city attracts visitors interested in history, art and nature. Ouro Preto: From gold to World Heritage The city of Ouro Preto, formerly Vila […]
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