Ouro Preto is synonym of mystery, culture and freedom. Listed by Unesco as a World Heritage Site, the city of Ouro Preto constitutes one of the most homogenous and complete sites of baroque art in the world. Situated 93 km from Belo Horizonte, in the state of Minas Gerais, it was founded on 24th June 1698. Ouro Preto's is the city that brings together the most homogeneous and complete collections of baroque art in the world. Its architecture faithfully reflects Brazil's colonial past. Its churches include São Francisco de Assis, whose architectural and artistic splendour is the work of Aleijadinho, and the Mother Church of our Lady of the Pillar, one of the richest in the country with 434 kilos of pure gold and 400 kilos of silver in its
ornaments. Also in Ouro Preto is the Opera House, dating from 1770, the oldest theatre in use in the Americas, and Casa dos Contos, architecturally remarkable and serving as a prison for Tiradentes and the other members of the Inconfidência Mineira.
	Mariana is a historical city separated by the River do Carmo, where on the XVII century gold was discovered and a city was founded. The main attraction is the Sé Cathedral with an organ of German tubes and the architectonic Minas Gerais Plaza with the Nossa Senhora do Carmo Church and São Francisco Church. A tour through the historical part of Minas Gerais must also have São João del Rei with its churches, bridges, museums, monuments and colonial residences, in addition to rich craftsmanship, with items like candelabra and tea services fashioned from tin. São João Del Rei is the birthplace and final resting place of Tancredo Neves, the president elected by the Electoral College for the transitional government between the
military dictatorship and the redemocratization of the country. São João del Rei preserves a railway built by Dom Pedro II in 1881 which connects the town to nearby Tiradentes, an ecological haven with lakes and waterfalls in addition to monuments, museums and churches built in colonial times. The steam train to Tiradentes must be taken in order to be travelling to the 18th century.
Tiradentes, a village a little altered by the passage of time. With its 8 baroque churches and nine winding streets, Tiradentes exemplifies the cultural and artistic production of the 18th century reflected by the fine furnishings and open spaces of the Solar da Ponte. The surrounding countryside offers walks and riding by the mountain, river and forest.