Minas Gerais Mineralogy

Departure from Rio at 08:30am with your English-speaking guide in a private vehicle. To get to the little colonial town of Tiradentes, you will travel 330 km through a continental decor of rolling hills full of history (about 3-hour drive).

Visit. This town is certainly the most romantic visit among all the colonial towns of the Minas Gerais. The easiest way to feel it is to let yourselves drifting freely through the narrow and steep streets, from a small shop to a church, from a church to a garden, in a baroque decor. The atmosphere is tropical due to the thick vegetation of the fertile Mata around the village at the foot of the cliffs of the Serra de S̃ao José. The church "Matriz" de Santo Antônio de Tiradentes is one of the most beautiful pieces of Brazilian baroque art.

Night at the pousada Villa Allegra (breaksfast included).
Included : english speaking guide, private transport, room & breakfast

The morning will be dedicated to the second part of your visit of Tiradentes, a colonial town now converted in a bohemian city where many artists and artisans have decided to live, attracted by the architectural elegance of the buildings (houses, patios, fountains, churches) and the pleasant life of this quiet village.

After lunch, you will drive towards the village of Congonhas, where you will stop to discover the statues of the twelve prophets, considered as the masterpiece of the sculptor Antônio Francisco Lisboa, also called the Aleijadinho ("the crippled") because of the acute polyarthritis he was suffering from. These pieces ornament the forecourt of the Basilica of Bom Jesus de Matosinhos, and dominate over an esplanade with the six chapels dos Passos, containing some scenes of the Passion of the Christ sculpted in cypress wood at real size.

In the afternoon, you will arrive at Ouro Preto (about 100 km away). With steep paved streets, old stone houses, over-ornate and excessively baroque churches, the town of Ouro Preto, founded in the early 18th century, keeps the greatest ensemble of Brazilian colonial art. The monuments, the pieces exhibited, the numerous details make it the archetypal cultural visit of Brazil, also because of its tragic history and of its splendor. You can admire, among others, pieces from the creating genius of the time, the painters Manoel da Costa Athaíde and Aleijadinho, who, like in Congonhas, left his signature. Among the visits: the church of Saint François of Assis, the church of Our Lady of the Pilar, the School of mines museum, the Oratory museum.

Note: Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, you can travel with the little steam train named "Maria Fumaça" to feel a bygone era of travelling between Tiradentes and São João del Rei in an early 20th Century atmosphere. The train leaves Tiradentes at 13:00am and reaches São João del Rei 30 minutes later. The train museum located in the São João del Rei train station retraces the world’s train history. The first Baldwin engine used during the inauguration trip of the "Estrada de Ferro Oeste e Minas" in August 1881 is exhibited there.

Night at the pousada Clássica (breakfast included). Luxury room.
Included : english speaking guide, private transport, room & breakfast

In the morning, a short trip (6km) will take you to the mine of Passagem, halfway on the sinuous road between Ouro Preto and Mariana. Visit of this gigantic old gold mine, preserved nowadays like a testimony of the gold rush which made the area busy during the 18th century. A little cart will take you to a few hundred meters below the ground in the large caverns dug by slaves a few centuries ago. Nearby, you can also visit an open pit Imperial Topaz mine where dozens of Brazilians are still trying, with hope as their only motivation.

You will drive a few more kilometers to reach Mariana. First town established in the Minas Gerais area by the Portuguese after the discovery of the gold and diamond deposits, Mariana, unchanged since the conquistadors, is surrounded with mountains. Mariana will instantly charm you with its particular character, the paved streets, the churches and the peacefulness of its inhabitants. Town visit: Arquidiocesano museum, churches of Do Carmo and of São Francisco and Cathedral da Sé where you can admire a German organ Arp Schnitger (Hamburg) from 1701. Offered in 1753 by the king of Portugal Dom José 1er for the creation of the diocese of Mariana, it constitutes the only existing model nowadays outside Europe. It is still in use twice a week, during baroque music concerts organized on Fridays at 11:00am and on Sundays at noon. Return to Ouro Preto, around midday, to finish your visit of town.

Night at the pousada Clássica (breakfast included). Luxury room.
Included : english speaking guide, private transport, room & breakfast

Start at 08:00am to go to Governador Valadares, 380 km North of Ouro Preto. You will take narrow and scenic countryside roads. The area is known for its exploitation of iron mines. On the way you will stop near Nova Era and dicover the Capoeirana emerald garimpo.

Arrive at the end of the day to Governador Valadares. Located at the base of the Pico Ibituruna at the heart of the main mining area in Brazil, Governador Valadares is an important production and trading center for the minerals.

Night at the pousada Jeito de Minas (breakfast included).
Included : english speaking guide, private transport, room & breakfast

In the morning visit of the Itatiaia mines: rubellite, beryl, quartz... In the afternoon and depending on the conditions (dirt track which can be impassable with rains), visit of the Urucum mine: morganite, hiddenite... Late in the afternoon, you may visit of the yards of the rough stones whole traders (with opportunities to buy).

You have the possibility to get to the top of the Peak of Itiburuna at 1123 meters above sea level, located at the foot of Rio Doce, in order to enjoy a beautiful view of the area.

Note: these mines can be visited only during the week, they are closed on weekends.

Night at the pousada Jeito de Minas (breakfast included).
Included : english speaking guide, private transport, room & breakfast

In the morning you will leave Governador Valadares to go to Teofilo Otoni (150 km). With 3,000 shops the city is the main commercial place for the wholesailing and retail trade of precious or semi precious stones and minerals of Brazil. Self proclaimed "world capital of precious stones" it is also known for the aquamarine.

Teofilo Otoni is the best stop to buy rough or carved stones.

Note: Teófilo Otoni hosts the international precious stone fair in August (dates changing).

Night at the Capital das Pedras hotel (breakfast included).
Included : english speaking guide, private transport, room & breakfast

In the morning, transfer to Belo Horizonte, the Minas Gerais capital (470 km / 6h). In the afternoon, visit of the city: visit to be arranged with the guide depending of the interests of the participants.

Night at hotel Ramada Airport (breaksfast included).
Included : english speaking guide, private transport, room & breakfast

Departure by private transport for your airport transfer, 3 hours prior to departure. Flight from Belo Horizonte (arrival airport, flight time and number to be confirmed).
Included : departure transfer with english speaking guide