53 Best Sights in Minas Gerais, Brazil

In the main square sits the unfinished Igreja de Nossa Senhora do Rosário dos Pretos, circa 1767, which was built, like its counterpart in Ouro Preto, by slaves. Here, however, they ran out of gold before the project could be completed. When slavery was abolished in 1888, the church was left as a memorial.

The small, intriguing Church of Our Lady of the Rosary of the Blacks was inaugurated by slaves in 1785, some of whom bought their freedom with the gold they found in Ouro Preto. The church's interior is bare, allegedly because the slaves ran out of gold after erecting the building. In the unusual oval interior the baroque church houses sculptures of Santa Helena, Santo Antônio, and São Benedito.

On a hill east of Praça Tiradentes, this interesting slave church was built over the course of 60 years (1730–90) and was funded by Chico-Rei. This African ruler was captured during Brazil's gold rush and sold to a mine owner in Minas Gerais. Chico eventually earned enough money to buy his freedom—in the days before the Portuguese prohibited such acts—and became a hero among slaves. The clocks on the facade are the city's oldest, and the interior contains cedar sculptures by Francisco Xavier de Brito, the teacher of the noted sculptor Aleijadinho.

A center of religious activity and one of the few non-stone buildings in São Thomé, Igreja Matriz is in São Thomé's main square and contains frescoes by Brazilian artist Joaquim José de Natividade, a disciple of the renowned sculptor Aleijadinho.

Between Ouro Preto and Mariana lies Brazil's oldest gold mine. During the gold rush thousands of slaves perished at Mina de Ouro de Passagem because of its dangerous, backbreaking conditions. Although the mine is no longer in operation, you can ride an old mining car through 11 km (7 miles) of tunnels and see exposed quartz, graphite, and black tourmaline. Buses travel here from Ouro Preto (catch them beside the Escola de Minas) and cost about R$3.50; a taxi ride costs about R$40.

Wood and soapstone carvings by Aleijadinho and paintings by Ataíde are among the noteworthy items on exhibit at the Archdiocesan Museum of Sacred Art, also known as the Aleijadinho Museum. Located behind the Catedral Basílica da Sé in a well-composed rococo structure, the museum claims to have the state's largest collection of baroque painting and sculpture.

In the main building of Belo's railway station, this museum has prompted the regeneration of the station's surrounding area since its opening in 2006. It houses almost 2,000 rudimentary tools and other items used by Brazilian laborers from the 17th to the 20th century.

In the former governor's palace, the Museum of Science and Technology contains an enormous collection of stunning precious and semiprecious gems, along with gold and crystals. Exhibits also survey the geology of Minas Gerais and explain the mining process. An entire floor is devoted to gems organized according to their chemical families.

Although it has an area of nearly 150 acres with Brazilian fauna, flora, archaeology, and mineralogy, the main attraction of this museum run by the Minas Gerais Federal University is the Presépio do Pipiripau (Pipiripau Crèche). This ingenious work of art narrates Christ's life in 45 scenes, with 580 moving figures. It was built by Raimundo Machado de Azevedo, who began assembling it in 1906 and finished in 1984.

More than 3,000 pieces extracted from sites all over the world are on display in the mineralogy museum, which is housed in a postmodern steel-and-glass building.

The city's Diamond Museum, in a building that dates from 1789, displays equipment used in colonial-period mines. The items on exhibit here include instruments made to torture slaves and sacred art from the 16th to the 19th century. There are guided tours of the rooms where diamonds were classified and separated.

Established in the historic house of the St. Carmel novitiate, once a home to Aleijadinho, this museum celebrates 18th- and 19th-century sacred art. Some of the oratories, which reflect ideas of religious beauty from the period, have been displayed at the Louvre.

Attached to an old colonial mansion, the Abílio Barreto Historical Museum (MHAB) presents permanent and temporary exhibitions about the city of Belo Horizonte. Outdoors are lush, pleasant gardens and a stage where concerts occasionally take place. The comfortable coffee shop here is open until midnight.

Originally built in 1935, São Lourenço's Water Park includes a picturesque lake with art deco pavilions, fountains, and gorgeous landscaping. The center of activity is its balneário, a hydrotherapy spa where you can immerse yourself in bubbling mineral baths and marble surroundings. There are separate bath and sauna facilities for men and women, and you can also get a massage at an extra cost.

With 45 acres of luscious tropical plants and magical winding walkways, the Parque Municipal (municipal park) was inspired by the landscaping of French belle époque gardens and inaugurated in 1897. It shelters an orchid house, a bandstand, a school, a playground, and the Francisco Nunes Theater, a beautiful modern building designed by the architect Luiz Signorelli in the 1940s that still presents theatrical plays and musical performances. With more than 50 tree species, the Municipal Park is highly recommended for walks.

Serra do Canastra National Park was created to preserve the springs of Rio São Francisco, one of the most important rivers in South America, which cuts through five Brazilian states. Its main attractions are its waterfalls, including the 610-foot Casca D'Anta. The park is in the city of São Roque de Minas, almost to Minas Gerais's border with São Paulo State. The Brazilian Institute of the Environment (IBAMA) manages the park from its headquarters in São Roque de Minas.

Highlights of the Serra do Cipó National Park include the roaring Cachoeira da Farofa (a waterfall) and the sprawling Canyon das Bandeirantes. Numerous bird species, as well as wolves, jaguars, anteaters, monkeys, and the poisonous sapo de pijama (pajama frog), are among the wildlife here. Although the park is difficult to reach and is lacking in infrastructure, the beautiful landscape and ecological wealth make it worth the trip. You can only tour the area Serra do Cipó with an authorized guide, so consider visiting as part of an organized tour.

On Rua da Glória, there's a covered wooden footbridge that connects the second stories of two buildings that once served as the headquarters of the colonial governors. The houses, originally built around 1876, were initially the residence of young nuns and the idea behind the bridge was to keep the women away from the prying eyes of passing men when they crossed the road. It's now a popular Diamantina postcard.

When the city was founded, this square was created to house public administration offices. Today, in addition to centenarian palm trees, fountains, and a bandstand, the square is surrounded by neoclassical, art deco, modern, and postmodern buildings. Take time to linger in the square and wander around the nearby streets. It's the best way to get the pulse of the city.

Billed as the oldest operating theater in Latin America, this former opera house opened in 1770. The Associação de Guias has information on events.

This temple is dedicated to wisdom and perfection through yoga. The Eubiose, a group of New Age spiritualists, similar to European Theosophists, believe in living in harmony with nature. They also believe this will be the only place to survive the end of the world.