 Mariana lies 110 km from Belo Horizonte and it is currently one of the most important towns in the gold circuit. It was the first city, village and capital of the State of Minas Gerais and, like its neighboring town, Ouro Preto, Mariana displays vast culture and several historical assets that have turned this small town into a beautiful visit back to colonial times. Its economy is currently based mainly on tourism and mining, as it is part of what is known as “Quadrilátero Ferrífero”, the name that has been given to the main cities in Minas where iron ore is mined. In 1945 president Getúlio Vargas bestowed on Mariana the title of Monument City.
Tourist Attractions: Mariana was built by the early settlers and underwent severe gold and gemstone exploration. The churches, mines and houses take visitors back to the times of colonial Brazil and of the early explorers who led the city to become a cultural heritage of M inas.
Nossa Senhora de Assunção Cathedral, the head church, is one of the main and most beautiful churches in Mariana and one of the oldest ones in Minas. It was built in the Baroque style and it is an obligatory visit for the tourist who wishes to learn deeply about the city. Every year Itacolomi Peak attracts thousands of hikers who wish to learn about to the history of this important geographic site. The grouping of two-story houses located on Direita Street also shows visitors a perfect portrait of the town’s historic beauty, with its shops on the ground floor and balconies upstairs.
Passagem mine is the greatest tourist attraction in Mariana and should not be missed. From the beginning of its activities in the first half of the 19th century until 1984, approximately 35 tons of gold were extracted from it. The mine is located in Passagem District, 4 km away from the town center and offers large halls, 30 km of tunnels, and clear-water underground lakes where diving can be practiced. An ancient mine trolley takes visitors on a 120-meter deep trip to gold-mining times.
 Gastronomy: Mariana offers a large variety of restaurants that follow the historic and adventurous spirit of the town and offer the best local cuisine, ranging from bean paste to sugar cane spirits. Sinhá Olímpia or Clube do Ouro are highly recommended restaurants located near Passagem mine, and both of them offer traditional local cuisine and homey and relaxed environments.
Handicraft: Mariana offers typical handicraft, and the most sought after articles are pita rugs, soapstone pans and wooden sculptures. The bus station hosts a handicraft fair that also offers sweets, brandy, wine, sugar cane spirits, jelly, cheese and butter produced and sold by local producers. The downtown streets display the works of craftsmen who work with paintings, sculptures and carvings.
How to get there: To those who are driving out of Belo Horizonte, the most practical and paved road is through BR040, driving on the way to Rio de Janeiro. After about 20 km, take the bypass in the direction of Ouro Preto (BR356 - Inconfidentes road) and follow it to Mariana. Buses leave daily from the bus station. The Pássaro Verde bus company runs daily services from the bus station at 6 am, 1:15 pm and 11 pm. The trip to Mariana takes 2h and15min and costs R$ 21.75 plus taxes.
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