South America >> Brazil >> Southeast >> Minas Gerais

Minas Gerais is a state in Brazil's Southeast region.

Regions

Cities

  • Belo Horizonte -- the state's capital, a cultural and economic metropolis
  • Congonhas
  • Diamantina -- famous for its diamonds, its music and 18th century architecture
  • Ouro Preto -- the most important Brazilian ensemble of Baroque architecture, a World Heritage Site
  • Juiz de Fora -- an industrial and university center located between Rio de Janeiro and Belo Horizonte, hosts an important festival of Baroque music
  • São João del Rei -- the largest colonial town
  • Tiradentes -- A charming small colonial town

Other destinations

Culture and History

Libertas quae sera tamen

"Minas Gerais" means "General Mines", so called because of the various mines in the area. Some still operate; in February 2006 a ring of diamond smugglers, passing off diamonds from Minas as if they were South African, was broken up.

Electricity

Electricity in Minas Gerais is 110 V 60 Hz, but there may be 220 V outlets, so ask. Plugs have two round prongs about 2 cm apart, but outlets that also handle US plugs are common in places frequented by tourists, such as hotels and LAN houses.

Talk

Mineiros speak Portuguese like other Brazilians, but the Mineiro accent can be difficult to understand. If someone's speech sounds like a jumble of sounds, try saying Pode falar devagar, por favor?, middle-class young people usually speak at least some english.

Travel to Minas Gerais - Visa Requirements

Tours and Getting around Minas Gerais

Minas Gerais tourist attractions and sightseeing

Itineraries

Minas Gerais city tours

Minas Gerais Restaurants: cheap, moderate and expensive

Minas traditional cousine is unique but was mainly influenced by the Portuguese.

  • If you go to Belo Horizonte you should visit the restaurant "Maria das Tranças", another great option is "Engenho de Minas".

Minas Gerais nightlife, bars, clubs and pubs

Stay safe

Get out

Destinations in Minas Gerais:

This page was last edited by Anonymous user(s) of Wikitravel. Based on work by Valtteri Päivinen, Ricardo, Evan Prodromou, Paul N. Richter and Michele Ann Jenkins, Wikitravel user(s) Texugo, Episteme, PierreAbbat, Jonboy and Dhum Dhum and Anonymous user(s) of Wikitravel. - Content on this page is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 1.0 license

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