Encircled by a crown of mountains, the Serra do Curral, Belo Horizonte is the capital of Minas Gerais and one of Brazil's first planned cities, with its broad avenues laid out in a grid. The Pampulha district, designed by architect Oscar Niemeyer around an artificial lake, is its modern jewel, recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site: the sinuous curve of the church of São Francisco de Assis stands out there. The city is renowned for its culinary tradition, considered among the richest in the country, to be savoured in the historic botecos and the great Mercado Central, where cheeses, cachaça and sweets tell of the Minas soul. Belo Horizonte is also the gateway to the baroque towns of Ouro Preto and Tiradentes and to the mountain landscapes of the interior, an ideal starting point for discovering the historic heart of Brazil.
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Giorno 2 — Belo Horizonte → Ouro Preto
Ouro Preto rises among the hills of Minas Gerais and is the jewel of Brazilian Baroque, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Born from the gold rush of the 18th century, the city preserves sumptuous churches, steep cobbled streets and squares where the colonial past comes alive at every turn. Its supreme masterpiece is the church of São Francisco de Assis, adorned by the genius of Aleijadinho, while the Inconfidência Museum recounts the story of the rebels who once dreamed of independence here. Soapstone craft shops and restaurants serving mineira cuisine, with its hearty dishes of beans and pork, complete the town's allure. Ouro Preto reveals itself on a stroll through its slopes, where art, history and faith intertwine.
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Giorno 4 — Ouro Preto → Tiradentes
Tiradentes is one of the most enchanting colonial towns in Minas Gerais, nestled at the foot of the Serra de São José and home to a historic centre that seems frozen in time. Its cobbled streets, pastel-coloured houses and the majestic church of Matriz de Santo Antônio, rich in Baroque decoration, recall the splendour of the gold-rush era. Famous for its crafts, antique shops and refined Minas Gerais cuisine, it draws lovers of culture and fine food each year. A vintage steam train connects it to nearby São João del-Rei. Tiradentes reveals itself to those who wander unhurried, amid history, art and gentle living.
