Destination Minas Gerais

29 Sep, 2013

READ IN ENGLISH BELOW / LEIA EM PORTUGUÊS
by Josie Cruz

Minas Gerais is a cosy little corner of Brazil with fertile land and strong economy. Belo Horizonte , its capital, is amongst the most developed cities in the country and right now is getting ready to host some of the World Cup 2014’s matches. Here the mixture between the traditional and the contemporary is revealed through the kindness of its people amid innovative architecture designed by Niemeyer and Burle Marx. There are plenty of entertainment options in Belo Horizonte, it being the city with the highest number of bars in all of Latin America!

Important names in Brazilian history are connected with Minas Gerais such as: Joaquim José da Silva Xavier, known as ‘Tiradentes’, an important figure in the revolutionary movement which preceded the country’s independence from the Portuguese colonial dominance, most notably the presidents, Juscelino Kubitschek and Tancredo Neves, the king of football, Pelé and also the internationally famous singer and composer, Milton Nascimento.

Certainly, those who choose this destination in search of culture, history, natural beauty and gastronomy does not regret their choice.

Yesterday and Today

Visiting Minas Gerais is like taking a trip back in time. A time when Brazil was great for mining gold and diamonds and Portugal was one of the main crowns of Europe. This cultural mix resulted in the beauty of the 18 ^th century’s colonial town as well as the birth of the Brazilian style of Baroque art, the Rococó, recognized worldwide. Walking aimlessly through the streets of these old towns is like exploring an open-air museum. The former Vila Rica, currently  Ouro Preto , became the most important capital of those times, having more inhabitants than Lisbon itself. Today, Ouro Preto is listed as UNESCO World Heritage Site and it is one of the main tourist destinations in Brazil.

by Visit Brasil, 2009, Ouro Preto

This cultural tour is far more interesting if travelled via one of the old steam locomotives, known as ‘Maria Fumaça’, that traverse the same royal roads created by Portugal long ago, with intentions of keeping gold smuggling under control during its transportation to Europe. These pathways are called ‘Estrada Real’ in Portuguese. Nowadays, you can travel on the four routes that link Ouro Preto and Diamantina, and lead towards Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo. São João Del Rey, Sabará and Mariana are historical towns that are definitely worth visiting.

by Guidini VH, 2011, Estrada Real Casa de Ouro Preto

Make sure to stop over in Congonhas town, where works of the two biggest names in Brazilian Baroque era can be seen. At the Sanctuary of Bom Jesus de Matosinhos are many of Master Ataíde’s paintings and the Twelve Prophets carved by Aleijadinho.

Yum, Minas Gerais!

The state is referred as being ‘the kitchen of Brazil’ and words could never explain this title, only a palate could! A mixture of influences from slavery and Portuguese colonization periods are capped with the specialities of rural areas, or rather, ‘countryside taste’. They have fresh products, wood stoves and recipes handed down from generation to generation, which altogether are great elements to make this regional cuisine the country’s favourite!

It is difficult to say which one is the traditional Minas Gerais dish, but perhaps the most famous are the homemade cheeses and sweets, chicken with okra, ‘tutu’ (mashed seasoned cooked beans, served as a side dish) and ‘feijão tropeiro’ (beans cooked with pork rinds, eggs, cassava flour and seasonings), without forgetting the much loved cheese bread.

Another mouth watering tip is to visit the food festival called Festival Cultura e Gastronomia , in Tiradentes town, held annually between August and September where national and international chefs gather for a delicious competition of flavours. It is worth checking out.

There’s a Festival about Minas Gerais in London. Take a look and learn more about Minas personally on 10th, 11th and 12th of October 2013.

Welerson, 2010, Profeta Joel e Basilica do Bom Jesus

>>> Cultural Tip

The Inhotim Institute in the city of Brumadinho is one of the greatest art and cultural centres in Brazil. It uses contemporary art, education and environment as tools for the cultural diversity elation, enabling social inclusion and citizenship for those who live nearby it. It is a model project because it promotes improvements in the livelihood and contributes positively to the region’s economy. The Institute Inhotim is open from Tuesday to Sunday and tickets can be booked online. Prices vary according to ticket type and dates of visit.