Congonhas, São João Del Rei and Tiradentes

Duration: 1 day(s) - Location: Cidades Mineiras

The historical origins of the wealth, mining art and culture of the region extend to the cities of Congonhas, Sao Joao del Rei and Tiradentes.

In Congonhas, the city of Baroque, is the highlight the Basilica of Bom Jesus de Matosinhos. The site retains the famous building the Passos da Paixão de Cristo, which consists of 78 life-sized sculptures, 66 images related to the Via Sacra distributed in six chapels and 12 of the Biblical prophets carved soapstone in the churchyard. The site received the title of Cultural Heritage by UNESCO in 1985, recognizing of talent and brilliance of the artwork of Aleijadinho.

The fascination with Baroque art continues in São João Del Rei. Along the Royal Road you can contemplate the view of the beautiful mountains that dominate the mining landscape. Located in a valley between the hills of São Jose and Lenheiro is São João Del Rei. Upon entering the city you can witness the urban evolution of a colonial mining town, whose historic core remains well-preserved and in harmony with the eclectic buildings of the 19th and 20th centuries. Its history incorporates a mix of architectural styles that originated in Baroque art and continue through modern eclecticism.

Next is the small Tiradentes, one of the most visited historical cities of Minas Gerais. Overlooking the city is one of the most beautiful basilicas in the entire state of Minas Gerais, the Matriz de Santo Antonio. Built in 1710, it is the second most golden church of Brazil (comprised of almost 500 kg), second only to that of São Francisco de Assis, in Salvador, Bahia. Inside the temple there is an organ dating from 1788, considered one of the fifteen most important in the world. In the yard of this church we can see the impressive Serra de São José, adding to the already-beautiful city

Itinerary

8:00 - Departure from the hotel or other meeting point agreed with the agency, supervised by one of our guides

9:00 - Arrival at Congonhas, where the visit begins at the Basilica of Bom Jesus de Matosinhos, the temple known worldwide for housing the 12 Prophets, a masterpiece of the master Aleijadinho. A visit to the other museums, chapels and other churches in the city completes the tour.

10:30 - Departure from Congonhas toward Del Rei. This route is known for the beauty and uniqueness of its mountains. In some places you can see the waterfalls which illustrate the great the natural resources of the mining state.

12:00 - Arrival in São João Del Rei. The first point to be visited is the Railway Station. Opened in 1881 by Dom Pedro II, the history of this railway is narrated in its museum, which open daily to the public.

12:30 - Lunch break.

13:30 - The visit continues with visits to the sumptuous churches of the historic centre, accompanied by a guide who will interpret the richness and variety of styles present the architecture of temples, monuments and houses through historical accounts of the city.

15:00 - We leave the busy São João Del Rei and headed for the quiet Tiradentes.

15:20 - In Tiradentes we start with a walking tour departing from downtown, the Largo das Forras, where we will find many local craft shops. We continue to the Museu Padre Toledo, an eighteenth-century house that hosted many meetings of the conspiracy group. We then visit the Mother of St. Anthony, the highpoint of the tour. The sculptor Aleijadinho is the creator of the facade and the church is the second in Brazil in its use of gold. Its churchyard houses the extensive Sierra de San José, a widely conserved green area bordering the colonial town of Tiradentes

16:20 - Departure from Tiradentes to Ouro Preto.

18:20 - Expected return to the hotel or elsewhere in the city of Ouro Preto according to customer preference. End of our services.

Participant guidelines

- The wear of comfortable shoes and slip, as the stones of the streets are slippery and steep hills. We recommend using sunscreen

- In the wintertime it is necessary to wear warm clothing to combat the cold weather cities

- Please remember that in Ouro Preto and neighboring towns, there are the differences in elevation in which it frequently reaches low temperatures throughout the year.

- The itinerary may change according to weather conditions and / or for reasons beyond our will.

Other disclosures

This includes:

• Transportation

• Guide

Not included:

• Tickets for paid attractions (some churches and museums)

• Food