TourA tour in Mariana, including the Passagem mine.

On this tour we will visit the city of Mariana, known as the cradle of Minas Gerais civilization. It was the first capital, city, and town of the state, and also the first bishopric seat of Minas Gerais. Today, the city is the guardian of an important part of Minas Gerais' cultural and historical heritage, such as the Cathedral of Sé, the Church of São Francisco de Assis, and Minas Gerais Square, which hold exquisite examples of colonial art from Minas Gerais.

We will also visit the Passagem Mine, one of the largest mines still open to visitors in the world, located in the Brazilian municipality of Mariana, in the Iron Quadrangle region of the state of Minas Gerais. Situated in the Passagem district of Mariana and covering approximately 7,200 km², the Passagem mine is the largest mine in this region, with its 30 km of tunnels and underground lakes of crystal-clear water.

The first deposits of the mine were discovered in 1729, but exploitation only began more than 100 years later. During the gold rush in Minas Gerais, the Portuguese and English extracted up to 35 tons of gold. The mine was shut down in 1954, but reopened for visitation in the 1970s. Today, the mine is used for tourism and is one of the largest meeting points for cave divers in Brazil.

Some of the attractions visited: Sé Cathedral, São Francisco Church, Carmo Church and the old prison and Passagem Mine.