Belo Horizonte

Founded in 1897, was the first Brazilian city to use urban planning. Brazil's 3rd largest city, it is the home of 2.5 million inhabitants that contribute to its fast industrial development as the country's leading export in mineral ore, precious stones, diamonds, nickel and the plant of FIAT automobile manufacture. Belo Horizonte's main attraction is the Pampulha residential district that surrounds a lake. Juscelino Kubitschek, mayor of Belo Horizonte (president of Brazil, developed this area in the 50's in the 60's - who built Brasília). Pampulha holds testimony to the first essays of 3 men who achieved world renown: Oscar Niemeyer, Roberto Burle Marx and Candido Portinari. Oscar Niemeyer, after this project dedicated his time to design Brasília and many other international projects. Roberto Burle Marx, a landscape artist, has several projects that are known by the public, such as the Copacabana sidewalks made of colored granite stones and Rio de Janeiro's Flamengo Park as well as several other landscape projects in Europe and private homes. Candido Portinari, a painter is recognized as one of Brazil's top artists and his contribution to public buildings, like the former Culture Ministry building in Rio de Janeiro - decorated tile panels at the entrance portico.

SERVICES

Transfer o.w. Airport / Hotel - 45km.Passengers will be met at the arrival gate and will be accompanied to the hotel. Guide will assist passengers with handling of luggage at the airport, at the hotel and check-in procedures.

Transfer o.w. Airport / Ouro Preto - 140km. Passengers will be met at the arrival gate and will be taken to Ouro Preto and accompanied to the hotel. Guide will assist passengers with handling of luggage at the airport, at the hotel and check-in procedures.

Transfer o.w. Airport / Contagem - 60km Passengers will be met at the arrival gate and will be accompanied to the hotel. Guide will assist passengers with handling of luggage at the airport, at the hotel and check-in procedures.

Transfer o.w. Belo Horizonte / Ouro Preto - 100km Passengers will be met at pick-up hotel and will be accompanied to the hotel. Guide will assist passengers with handling of luggage at the airport, at the hotel and check-in procedures.

H/D City + Pampulha Tour - Duration: 3hrs. Tour visits the city passing by residential areas reaching Pampulha district, famous for its integrated project that puts together 3 world renowned artists: Oscar Niemeyer's first public buildings; Roberto Burle Marx and his integrated gardens and landscaping and Candido Portinari that painted the interior of the Saint Francis of Assissi church. Besides this church, the Pampulha area also houses the Art Museum, Yacht Club, Soccer Stadium and the Minas Gerais University Campus.

H/D Sabará Tour Duration: 3hrs .Sabará, 27km from Belo Horizonte was founded in 1711 and was one of the most productive in the gold mining years of the 18th century along with Ouro Preto and Mariana. The highlights of a tour to Sabará are the Gold Museum; installed in the former Casa da Intendência (Mayor's Manor) has a collection of scaled models of the gold mines in the area and mining systems, furniture and artifacts. Nossa Senhora do Ó church with its wood panels painted using Chinese techniques and forms. Our Lady of Carmo Church, project, sculptures and engravings by "Aleijadinho". Theater - one of the 2 Elizabethan theaters in Brazil..

H/D Congonhas do Campo Tour Duration: 4hrs. Congonhas do Campo - 80km. Together with Ouro Preto and Sabará, Congonhas is one of the remaining towns of the gold cycle. Presents as points of interest Aleijadinho's sculpture masterpiece, the twelve prophets in soapstone, and the sculptural representation of the Via Crucis, in polychromatic woodwork. To perform this job, Aleijadinho counted on the aid of his pupils to work in a system similar to medieval corporations. The set of life-size sculptures is considered the greatest artistic treasure in Brazil. Highlights of the tour: Cathedral Basilica and its famous 18th century organ of German manufacture and its gold inlaid wood panels with oriental style decoration and the Via Crucis chapels.

F/D Congonhas do Campo Tour + Ouro Preto w/ lunch Duration: 10hrs. Congonhas do Campo - 80km. Together with Ouro Preto and Sabará, Congonhas is one of the remaining towns of the gold cycle. Presents as points of interest Aleijadinho's sculpture masterpiece, the twelve prophets in soapstone, and the sculptural representation of the Via Crucis, in polychromatic woodwork. To perform this job, Aleijadinho counted on the aid of his pupils to work in a system similar to medieval corporations. The set of life-size sculptures is considered the greatest artistic treasure in Brazil. Highlights of the tour: Cathedral Basilica and its famous 18th century organ of German manufacture and its gold inlaid wood panels with oriental style decoration and the Via Crucis chapels. Ouro Preto: Founded in the early 18th century it is the masterpiece of colonial architecture in Brazil. Declared by UNESCO Cultural Patrimony of Mankind. The highlights of a visit to Ouro Preto are: Church of St.Francis of Assissi, a masterpiece of Brazilian religious architecture, designed and sculpted in wood and soapstone by Aleijadinho; Museum of the School of Mines: gives a complete mineralogical view of Brazil, in addition to displays of geological artifacts from other countries; Church of Our Lady of Pilar: a church that marked the culmination of Golden Age architecture, with carved works painted entirely in gold. To have an idea of the richness of the Ouro Preto soil we can only say that the Imperial Topaz, one of our most beautiful and enviable stones is, to this day, only found in Ouro Preto. Casa dos Contos a beautiful 18th century building that houses today a collection of gold coins of the colonial period. Lunch will be a taste of typical Mineira dishes of the regions: Feijão Tropeiro and Tutu à Mineira (two different dishes using beans).

F/D Ouro Preto Tour with Lunch - 100km Duration: 8hrs. Founded in the early 18th century it is the masterpiece of colonial architecture in Brazil. Declared by UNESCO Cultural Patrimony of Mankind. The highlights of a visit to Ouro Preto are: Church of St.Francis of Assissi, a masterpiece of Brazilian religious architecture, designed and sculpted in wood and soapstone by Aleijadinho; Museum of the School of Mines: gives a complete mineralogical view of Brazil, in addition to displays of geological artifacts from other countries; Church of Our Lady of Pilar: a church that marked the culmination of Golden Age architecture, with carved works painted entirely in gold. To have an idea of the richness of the Ouro Preto soil we can only say that the Imperial Topaz, one of our most beautiful and enviable stones is, to this day, only found in Ouro Preto. Casa dos Contos a beautiful 18th century building that houses today a collection of gold coins of the colonial period. Lunch will be a taste of typical Mineira dishes of the regions: Feijão Tropeiro and Tutu à Mineira (two different dishes using beans).

F/D Ouro Preto + Mariana Tour with Lunch - 124km Duration: 10hrs. Ouro Preto ­ founded in the early 18th century it is the masterpiece of colonial architecture in Brazil. Declared by UNESCO Cultural Patrimony of Mankind. The highlights of a visit to Ouro Preto are: Church of St.Francis of Assissi, a masterpiece of Brazilian religious architecture, designed and sculpted in wood and soapstone by Aleijadinho; Museum of the School of Mines: gives a complete mineralogical view of Brazil, in addition to displays of geological artifacts from other countries; Church of Our Lady of Pilar: a church that marked the culmination of Golden Age architecture, with carved works painted entirely in gold. To have an idea of the richness of the Ouro Preto soil we can only say that the Imperial Topaz, one of our most beautiful and enviable stones is, to this day, only found in Ouro Preto. Lunch will be a taste of typical Mineira dishes of the regions: Feijão Tropeiro and Tutu à Mineira (two different dishes using beans).

Mariana - 12km from Ouro Preto, founded in 1711 was Minas Gerais' state first capital. When it was first discovered Gold could be easily found in riverbeds. Mariana is a National Heritage Town since 1945 and its highlights are: Cathedral - and its famous 18th century German manufacture organ, and oriental style wall paintings; Archidiocesan Museum with an important religious baroque art collection, furniture, paintings and silver objects; Minas Gerais Plaza - an architectural complex with the Chamber House and Jail, the churches of Carmo and São Francisco and the Pillory (place of punishment of slaves).