BELO HORIZONTE & THE HISTORICAL TOWNS OF MINAS GERAIS
Special Tours | Maps

Founded at the turn of the century, Belo Horizonte still keeps to the more leisurely pace of days gone by although it is today Brazil’s third largest city. Belo Horizonte is the gateway to the historical towns of Ouro Preto, declared a world monument by Unesco; Mariana, Sabará, Diamantina and others. Architect Niemeyer had a hand in building of Belo Horizonte at the beginning of his career. Twenty five years later, he designed Brasília, Brazil’s Capital. An attractive town, Belo Horizonte City Park and Art Museum are well worth visiting. The best days visiting Belo Horizonte are Thursdays/Sundays when a tour to the crafts fair can be arranged. Ouro Preto has a famous winter festival in July, at which time the usually peace-loving town is a bustle of activities; youngsters take over the city and turn it into a happy center of music and play.

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SERVICES IN MINAS GERAIS

TRANSFER

From Confins Airport to hotels, or vice-versa.

SPECIAL TOURS

Daily at 9:00 AM. Approximate duration: 3 hours. Visit to the business area where banks and commerce are located; the residential districts; the Pampulha Park with the Niemeyer chapel, the lake and the zoo.

Tuesdays through Sundays at 9:00 AM. Approximate duration: 8 hours. Ouro Preto, a National Monument since 1933 has now been declared a World Monument by Unesco. A mining town by the XVIIth century, it prospered until the XVIIIth. Its art treasures and colonial architecture are an inheritance of past glory and wealth.

Tuesdays through Sundays at 9:00 AM. Approximate duration: 10 hours. A visit to Ouro Preto and Congonhas do Campo by a country road, to see the works of Aleijadinho (The Little Cripple). He sculpted the statues of Christ's Passion which are located in chapels along the way to the main church. Considering that he was a leper who had lost his hands, working with chisel and mallet strapped to his wrists, he performed a fantastic feat.

Daily at 9:00 AM. Approximate duration: 9 hours, This is one of Brazil's most famous caves. Over 600 meters long and 15 meters high, it still has unexplored galleries. Dutch naturalist Peter Lund, who discovered it in 1833, lived in this cave for some years, studying the origins of primitive American man. Today, artificial illumination highlights million-year old stalactites and stalagmites that abound in the cave.

The National CongressBRASÍLIA

Brasília, the country’s recently built capital is a great tourist attraction. Niemeyer designed it in a futuristic style, with gardens and wide avenues. Located on a plateau, it has a dry, temperate climate, pleasant throughout the year. Sightseeing tours of the city include a visit to the National Theater, built like a pyramid; the Television Tower, a 218 meter high structure; the Congress Plaza (photo); and many other interesting spots.

SERVICES IN BRASÍLIA

TRANSFER

From the international Airport to hotels, or vice-versa.

SPECIAL TOURS

Daily at 9:00 AM. Approximate duration: 3 hours. This main tour of Brasilia includes the Residential SuperBlocks, Shopping Center, Alvorada Palace, Itamarati Palace (Foreign Relations Ministry), Plaza of the Three Powers, TV Tower and Cathedral, and other places of interest.

Daily at 8:00 AM. Approximate duration: 08 hours.

A package custom-fitted for those who wish to visit Brasilia is included. A complete city tour and barbecue lunch in a typical steak-house.

Upon Request. Approximate duration: 4 hours.

Visit to a religious center founded by the spiritualist visionary Tia Neiva (Aunt Neiva). A community with approximately 2,000 people, various "mediums" that assist around 50,000 persons per month. Aunt Neiva, now passed, entitled herself of being chosen by the "Astral" beings to perform a salvation mission of those "elected" and to announce to our civilization the coming of the "Third millennium".

Upon Request. Approximate duration: 7 hours.

Visit to Cristalina, a little town of the State of Goiás, 136 Km (84 miles) from Brasilia, well known for the active commerce of precious and semi-precious gems and nearby crystal reservoirs. Crystals are said to have healing attributes. Lunch in Luiziania, another little town founded in the past century.