Congonhas is a city located in Minas Gerais, southeastern Brazil. It was one of the main cities of the Gold Rush in the late 17th century, when Bandeirantes - explorers of the Brazilian territory who worked in search of mineral wealth - found several precious metal reserves in the region of Minas Gerais, Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul. Its main tourist attraction is the Sanctuary of Bom Jesus de Matosinhos and The Twelve Prophets of Aleijadinho, which are twelve soapstone carvings of prophets of Christianity.