Belo Horizonte  is   the  capital  of   the  state  of   Minas Gerais.  It is located  2,625 feet above sea level  and is blessed   with  a  pleasant  climate   year-round.  It  is  a bustling yet, easy-going city with hospitable inhabitants.
Belo Horizonte  was  a  planned city, originally modeled on  Washington,  D.  C.   Recent  urban  expansion  has strayed  from   the   original  design.    Five   miles  from downtown Belo Horizonte is Pamputha district,  with  its man-made lake and lovely houses.  The São Francisco Chapel, located on the edge of the lake, was  designed by Oscar Niemeyer and is decorated with  paintings  by Cândido Portinari. Another sight is  Mineirão  Stadium, Brazil's second largest.

Belo Horizonte  is  located  364  miles  from São Paulo and  288  miles  from    Rio  de  Janeiro.     There  is  an overnight train linking Rio  and  Belo  Horizonte  as  well as flights from all  major cities  to Confins Airport.   Belo Horizonte is  also the  gateway  to  the colonial towns of Minas Gerais.
 
 
 
 

THE HISTORIC TOWNS 

Ouro Preto is a reminder of the importance of  gold  and  precious  stones  on  Brazil's history  and  development.   From  the  18th century  on,  the  mines around Ouro Preto overflowed  with  gold  and  gems.  The  town  was  even  capital  of Minas Gerais from 1823 to 1897 under  its former name of Vila Rica ('Wealthy Village'). Fortunately, Ouro Preto has managed to  preserve  its  18th-century  architecture  and  appearance.  The town is considered a national landmark and was  even  declared a world monument by the UNESCO in 1980.  Its narrow, cobblestone  streets are a legacy of Brazil's colonial past.  The town  also  possesses  more than 23 churches built in the baroque style that dominated the period.  Some are magnificently adorned with gold, a mineral  that  was more than abundant in Ouro Preto.

The Inconfidência Museum brings to life the fight for Brazilian  independence  including the story of Tiradentes, Brazil's martyr for liberty.  He was executed by the  Portuguese in   1789,   but  his  dream  finally  became  reality  in  1822   when   Brazil   gained   its independence from Portugal. 

Near Ouro Preto are  other  historic  towns  like  Mariana.  Congonhas,  São João Del Rey and Sabará. The latter town still bears the traces of the colonial period when ships laden with gold and precious stones left Brazil daily for Portugal.

Among  its exquisite churches are Our Lady of Conceição and Carmo.  There,  visitors can appreciate  the  extraordinary  talent  of  Brazil's  most important baroque sculptor, Aleijadinho.  This amazing artist worked with  carving  tools tied to his crippled  hands. His  soapstone  sculptures  of  the  Twelve  Prophets   in   front   of    Bom   Jesus   dos Matozinhos Church in Congonhas are truly an impressive sight. 176 miles northeast of Belo Horizonte  is  Diamantina,  a  town  that  flourished  in  the diamond mining region around 1729, with lovely colonial homes and churches.

Caverns - Nature  provides  some  truly  magnificent  attractions  in  Minas  Gerais.  26 miles  from  Belo  Horizonte  is  Lapinha  Cavern,   10 million years old.   Visitors to the cavern can see the fossilized remains of a pre-Colombian man.   Serra do Cipó  State Park is also located nearby  with  waterfalls  and  camping  areas.   Maquiné Cavern is located 78 miles from Belo Horizonte.   It has  1.444 feet  of  passageways  leading  to seven  enormous   caverns  filled   with  white,  green,  red  and  gray   stalactites    and stalagmites.