The historic cities of Minas Gerais were born out of the mining fever that marked Brazil from the 18th century until the first decades of the following century.
The historic cities of Minas Gerais are divided into two groups:
Ouro Preto and Diamantina have been declared World Heritage Sites by Unesco; the other cities, regardless of their titles, also boast treasures of colonial art and architecture.
What they all have in common – more than the houses, the magnificent churches and monuments, the uneven cobblestones and the beautiful landscapes that surround them – is the untranslatable atmosphere in which nature and history, past and present are mixed.
Catas Altas is a graceful colonial town that was founded in 1712. Located 110 kilometres from Belo Horizonte on the MG-129 and BR-381 motorways, 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 […]
The Arraial de Sabarabuçu, founded in 1674 with the arrival of the Fernão Dias flag under the command of Borba Gato, was elevated to 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 it […]
For more than three hundred years, Minas Gerais supported the Portuguese Crown, helped to build the idea of an independent Brazilian nation and always managed to remain influential in Brazilian political decisions. In the beginning it was the backlands. In the first centuries of colonization, the territory that we now […]
Baroque appeared in Brazil a little later, during 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 all featured prominently in the Baroque of Minas Gerais. Evoking […]
In the early days of exploration in the gold region, at the end of the 17th century, a long road connected the mining settlements to the port of Paraty, crossing the Mantiqueira mountain range. The journey took three months. In 1698, the bandeirante Garcia Rodrigues obtained authorization to open a […]
The town of Serro, in its early days known 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. The city’s colonial architecture has been preserved, and its streets retain the characteristics of the eighteenth-century […]
Diamantina in Minas Gerais, 280 kilometers north of Belo Horizonte via the BR-040 highway, is the gateway to the Jequitinhonha valley. Its formation dates back to the 18th century; it was then called the arraial of Tijuco, and arose from the exploitation of diamonds, which was ruthlessly controlled by the […]
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 honor of […]
At the beginning of the 18th century, the future Tiradentes was just another prosperous mining town in Minas Gerais. In 1718 it was elevated to the category of town and renamed São José, in honor of the Portuguese prince. The current name came only after the Republic, in reference to […]
The Church of São Francisco de Assis, located in Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, is considered one of the masterpieces of the 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 […]
Aleijadinho is considered the greatest representative of the Baroque style in Minas Gerais and is known for his soapstone sculptures, wood carvings, altars and churches. Biography of Antônio Francisco Lisboa, better known as Aleijadinho Antônio Francisco Lisboa (1738-1814), better known by his nickname Aleijadinho, was born in Ouro Preto, the […]
The Sanctuary of Bom Senhor Jesus de Matozinhos is home to one of the most valuable monuments on the planet and 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 […]
Mariana in Minas Gerais is one of the most important historic cities on the Minas Gerais Gold Circuit. Together with its districts, it holds interesting relics from the time when the history of the state began to be drawn. Mariana was the first capital of Minas Gerais, the first city […]
Look at the road, look at the bridge, look at the mountain / where the white church is cut out. This is how Cecília Meireles described the old Vila Rica, and this is how – the church towers and the old roofs standing out against the dark backdrop of the […]
The history of Brazil developed out of a long and complex period of disputes over national projects marked by strong moments of instability.
Independence of Brazil – Breaking of colonial ties in Brazil 1. Introduction As you may have realised, we have presented a reading of different
Portuguese Empire in Brazil – Portuguese Royal Family in Brazil 1 Introduction We have seen the influence of revolutionary ideas on the main
Transfer of the Portuguese court to Brazil 1. Introduction In the previous chapter, we saw the main liberation movements influenced by French and
Map of Brazil from 1730 – Historical Map “Nova et Accurata Brasiliae Totius Tabula, Auctore Ioanne Blaeu I.F.”, Blaeu/Schenk This
Founding the city of São Paulo and the Bandeirantes 1. Introduction In this chapter we will study the founding of the city of São Paulo and its
Between the colonial regime and the establishment of the Empire in Brazil Brazil’s independence did not happen overnight, based on the
The Iberian Union and the Dutch Invasion of Brazil 1. Introduction In the first part of this chapter we will study the so-called “Iberian
Map of Portugal and Spain from 1620 “Hispaniae Nova Describtio, de integro Multis Inlocis, Secundum Hydrographicas, Desc. Emendata”,
Colonial Sugar Mills in Brazil 1 Introduction In this chapter we will study the establishment in Brazil of the so-called colonial sugar mills or
Monoculture, Slave Labour and Latifundia in Colonial Brazil 1 Introduction In this chapter we will study the historical process of the introduction
Installation of the General Government in Brazil and the Foundation of Salvador 1. Introduction In this topic we will study the installation of the
The study of the periods of Colonial Brazilian History mentioned below is of paramount importance, as it was from this time that the foundations of
Installation of the Portuguese Colony in Brazil In this chapter you will be able to: understand the historical process that led to the establishment
Pre-Colonial Period in Brazil – The Forgotten Years 1. Introduction In this chapter we will study the pre-colonial period, also known as
Pedro Álvares Cabral’s Expedition and the Conquest of Brazil 1 Introduction In this chapter we will begin our study of the
Occupation of the African Coast, the Atlantic Islands and the Voyage of Vasco da Gama to India Introduction In this topic we will study the
The Causes of Portuguese Maritime Expansion 1. Introduction We are beginning our studies in the subject of Brazilian Colonial History. This whole
Map of South America from 1601 – Descripcion de las Indias “Descripcion de las Yndias de Mediodia”, Herrera y
Map of the World from 1584 – Theatrum Orbis Terrarum Ortelius’ Famous World Map – First Plate in Full Contemporary Color
