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Brazil Tours and Travel

Suggested Packages / Rio area / Amazon / Pantanal / Iguassu
Salvador and Bahia / Northeast Coast / Bonito / Fernando de Noronha
Gauchos & Grapes / Land of Gold and Gems / Lencois Marenhenses

Minas Gerais -Land of Gold and Gems

Colonial Gems Tour

This is the cultural and historical tour of the area. Founded in the early eighteenth century, Ouro Preto is a masterpiece of colonial Brazilian architecture and art. In fact, UNESCO has declared it a World Heritage Site. Here the intricate details of the buildings and art works clearly reflect the originality and autonomy of the craftsmen and artists who created this monument of Brazilian baroque style. The painting of Manuel da Costa Athaíde and the sculptures of Antônio Francisco Lisboa, Aleijadinho, are living examples of this period of enormous creative inspiration. A visit to Ouro Preto is a step back into history and past human accomplishments. The town has thirteen large churches and numerous public monuments and buildings. The most spectacular of the churches are Saint Francis, Our Lady of Carmo, Our Lady of the Rosary, Pilar and Antônio Dias.Other important sites include the Casa dos Contos (the former minting house), the Inconfidência Museum (which documents Brazil's earliest independence movement), the Mineralogical Museum and the world class Museu do Oratório (with its magnificent collection of sacred art, especially oratories).

The first capital and bishopric of Minas, Mariana was founded in 1711. Its principal attractions are the Archdiocesan Museum, the Carmo and Saint Francis churches and the Cathedral. On the road between Ouro Preto and Mariana lies the old Passagem gold mine which offers tours to visitors. Music lovers will not want to miss the concerts performed on the Cathedral's Arp Schnitger organ manufactured in 1701. They are given on Fridays at 11:00 AM and Sundays at 12:15 PM.

The baroque style was characterized by exuberant forms and liturgical and ornamental pomp. The tiny mulatto angels and bucolic motifs abounding in the works of Antônio Francisco Lisboa, Aleijadinho, were the marks which came to define a decidedly Brazilian baroque style. The former mining center of Congonhas is blessed with a major grouping of this brilliant sculptor's works: the twelve prophets sculpted in soapstone and the figures of the Stations of the Cross, completed from 1796 to 1799. The life-size sculptures constitute Brazil's most important artistic treasure. The architectonic and artistic complex of the Bom Jesus dos Matosinhos Basílica was recognized as a Cultural Heritage of Humanity by Unesco in 1985. Congonhas 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. 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.

Although it lacks the rich archictecture landmarks which abound in Ouro Preto, Tiradentes has plenty of colorful, harmonious colonial houses. The town seems to have been frozen in time, and attracts tourists seeking both peace and quiet cultural events. Nestled between the Rio das Mortes (River of the Dead) and the São José mountain chain, the town was practically forgotten between the end of the gold rush period and the 1970s, when business people from Rio helped restore the beautiful old houses. Soon the locals pitched in, and Tiradentes soon became a refuge for artists from Rio and São Paulo.

Sample Tour

Day 1 - arrive at Belo Horizonte airport, where you will be met and taken on a tour of Congonhas, then transfer to Ouro Preto and to Pousada Classica Hotel. Lunch is included.
Day 2 - breakfast, then full day tour of Ouro Preto, including lunch. Overnight at Pousada Classica
Day 3 - breakfast, then you will be transferred back to Belo Horizonte airport for your departing flight

2010 Price per person, double occupancy in US$:

Including: Private services; English-speaking guide; 2 overnights with breakfast; 2 lunch; entrance fees
Not including: beverages; optional tours

Pousada Clássica has the charm of a beautiful Baroque big house with all the comfort offered by a modern lodging structure. All of its twenty-five apartments have a freezer, telephone, TV, heating and air conditioning, and there are also two special suites, one of them with a private massage bathtub. "Clássica" Inn also has its own lift and parking area. A quality amenity that pleases even the most demanding guests. http://www.pousadaclassica.com.br/en.html#home

Rio to Minas Gerais

Day 1 Departure from Rio to Tiradentes.
On the way, visit to Petrópolis with lunch included. Overnight in Tiradentes
Highlights (Petropolis): Panoramic visit to Princess Isabel's house, Imperial Museum and Santos Dumond house.
Overnight: Villa Allegra in Tiradentes

Day 2 Tiradentes/Sao Joao Del Rey/Ouro Preto
Breakfast, Full Day touring Tiradentes to São João del Rei + lunch then Congonhas to Ouro Preto
Highlights (Tiradentes): Padre Toledo's house, Saint Antonie's church and Sao Jose water fount.
Highlights (Sao Joao Del Rey): Railroad Museum, Sao Francisco de Assis Church
Overnight: Solar Nossa Senhora do Rosário Hotel in Ouro Preto (can quote with cheaper hotel if desired)

Day 3 Ouro Preto/ Mariana/ Belo Horizonte
Breakfast, Full Day touring Ouro Preto and Mariana + lunch , then Transfer to Belo Horizonte
Highlights (Congonhas): Bom Jesus do Matosinho Santuary, Passos Chapellle.
Highlights (Mariana): Panoramic visit to Se Basilic and Passagem Mine.
Highlights (Ouro Preto): Casa doas Contos, Saint Francisco de Assis Church, Mine Museum.
Overnight: Liberty Palace Hotel in Belo Horizonte

Day 4 Belo Horizonte
Breakfast, Transfer hotel to CNF airport

2010 price per person in US$: