Paraty
Paraty is a city located in the southern state of Rio de Janeiro. Founded in 1660, it was an important city of the Gold Rush (17th and 18th centuries) serving as the main export port for gold from Minas Gerais, Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul. Its preserved historic center contains many buildings of the Brazilian Colonial Period (1500-1822) and its streets are paved with cobblestone pavements. In Paraty there are also several trails where the visitor can see up close the typical fauna and flora of the region and waterfalls; by some of the trails it is possible to have access to beaches of crystal clear blue waters - one of the most famous is Praia do Sono.
Paraty is known for the cachassas that are produced in alembics in the city, tradition inherited from post-period of the Gold Rush when several plantations of coffee and sugar cane settled in the city. With a busy cultural life Paraty is the destination of one of the most important literature events in Brazil, the Paraty Literary Fair (also known as FLIP).
Ouro Preto
The city of Ouro Preto is located in the state of Minas Gerais, southeast of Brazil. Its name was inspired by the black gold (Ouro Preto in Portuguese) found in the region at the time of its discovery. Until today, the city maintains the architectural characteristic of the colonial period of Brazil.
Its most famous sights are the baroque and rococo churches with stunning paintings and sculptures in its interior. Ouro Preto is the city where Antonio Francisco Lisboa, better known as Aleijadinho, was born and died. He is one of the most famous Brazilian architects and sculptors. Many of his works can be found in the city, such as the Church of St. Francis of Assisi.
Tiradentes
The city of Tiradentes is located in the state of Minas Gerais, southeastern Brazil. It was an important city at the time of the Gold Rush (end of 17th century and had its height in 18th) time in which were discovered several mines of precious metals in the states of Minas Gerais, Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul. It is characterized by colonial architecture and baroque churches. The streets of the historic center have cobblestone pavements so that horses and troops did not bog down in the mud in the period of colonial BrazilThe name of the city is a tribute to Tiradentes, important personage in the Brazilian history that acted in favor of the independence of Brazil – he is considered a national hero.
Sao Joao del Rei
São Joao del Rei is a city in the state of Minas Gerais, southeast of Brazil. It was one of the cities where the Gold Rush took place in the late 17th century. It’s a bucolic city, with colonial architecture in its historical center and churches in baroque style. One of its main attractions, in addition to the churches, is the steam train that on weekends travels to Tiradentes city.
Mariana
Mariana is the first planned city in the state of Minas Gerais and it was founded in 1696. Mariana is an important city in the time of the Gold Rush, in 17th century, and is characterized by colonial period buildings in its historical center. It’s in this city where there is the Mina da Passagem, the biggest gold mine open for public visiting in the world.
Congonhas
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.
