Minas Gerais

Minas Gerais is a very interesting cultural melting pot that begins with the discovery of the gold and other precious stones towards the end of the XVII century. The gold rush was the spark for the construction of the first cobblestone streets of Brazil, followed by a rapid urban process and the birth of a sophisticated society; on the other hand, it fed one of the biggest political movements of independence from the colony. When the gold ran out, the miners started to search for other lands. Huge forests were transformed into big farms. New towns and cities came to life, a phenomenon that helped the population growth of Brazil. The state has a great historical importance and it shows a strong contrast between the small and charming villages from the XVII century and the modern cities characterised by audacious urban plans. To the cultural heritage of the first Indios, Portuguese and Africans desbravadores added ideas and ways of life of other populations that came along with a complex historical context, leaving important marks on Brazilian soil. This mixture of people and history gave life to the term “mineraridade”, used to describe the peculiar characteristics of the inhabitants of Minas Gerais. This cultural pattern is a special and unique way of being that arises in the cultural and religious events, in the value of the traditions, in the generosity of the people and in the welcoming spirit. Like its history and its people, nature is equally outstanding. The harmony of the natural elements seems perfectly shaped by a capable hand, the perfection of the outline of the plateaus, the woods, the hills, the caves, the rivers and the waterfalls take turns with the beautiful countryside, the lakes and the forests where the human presence traces back to over 12 thousand years ago. Minas holds a great hydrological richness, second only to the Amazonas region. The best time of the year to travel to Minas Gerais is from April through November, which are months that the sky is clear and the sun shines. During this period of time the temperature varies considerably a lot in the day and at night. In some places the temperature drops from 30o to 5/10o degrees Celcius.