Minas Gerais was the stage for the Inconfidência Mineira, the most important Brazilian movement for the country’s freedom against the oppression of the Portuguese government during the colonial period.
Some people prefer to take advantage of this traditional holiday to travel and escape their daily routine. An excellent option is to learn a bit about this state that offers numerous places to visit, all of them retrieving a piece of the country’s history during this important period.
One of these locations is the Estrada Real, formed by three paths that were used by colonizers to transport the riches that would be taken to Portugal. It is one of the tours where you will find various fascinating attractions, such as churches, museums, colonial buildings, and vast ecological reserves, with trails in dense forests and extreme sports in river rapids and waterfalls. There are more than 1500 kilometers of roads formed by 177 municipalities between Minas Gerais, São Paulo, and Rio de Janeiro.
Another option is to discover the secrets of the underground of this rich state by visiting the Circuito das Grutas, formed by the cities of Baldim, Cordisburgo, Lagoa Santa, Capim Branco, Jetiquibá, Matozinhos, and Sete Lagoas. The Gruta do Maquiné in Cordisburgo, the Gruta da Lapinha in Lagoa Santa, and the Gruta do Rei do Mato in Sete Lagoas are the most well-known, and in them, you will find waterfalls and underground rivers with magnificent stalagmites and stalactites, as well as human and extinct animal remains, rock inscriptions, and objects made with ancestral arts.
There is also the Circuito das Águas in southern Minas Gerais, composed of ten cities, with Caxambú, São Lourenço, and Araxá being the most important. The circuit is highly sought after for its hydro-mineral spas, whose waters have therapeutic and medicinal properties. In addition to parks that can be explored by pedal boats, cable cars, or carriages, the circuit features springs and spas that offer baths and massages for complete harmony between mind and body.
The revolutionary ideals, slavery, and the gold cycle were significant for the famous Historical Cities of Minas, which still hold relics of baroque art from artists Aleijadinho and Ataíde. These cities have preserved all the tradition and culture of the state in their majestic churches, museums, streets, and houses, which is why the cities of Ouro Preto and Diamantina received the title of Cultural Heritage of Humanity granted by UNESCO.
By Cristina Terra. Source: Blog.bestday.com.br