Minas Gerais

• 🌍 Belo Horizonte — the state's capital, a cultural and economic metropolis
• 🌍 Diamantina — famous for its diamonds, its music and 18th century architecture
• 🌍 Governador Valadares — a modern city known as the "little America" of Brazil
• 🌍 Juiz de Fora — an industrial and university center between Rio de Janeiro and Belo Horizonte, hosts an important festival of Baroque music
• 🌍 Montes Claros — cultural hub of the north
• 🌍 Ouro Preto — the most important Brazilian ensemble of Baroque architecture, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
• 🌍 Sete Lagoas — a city built amongst seven lakes
• 🌍 Uberaba — the cattle ranching capital of Brazil
• 🌍 Uberlândia — humorously referred to as "Land of Uber", a very modern cosmopolitan city, the second largest city in the state

• 🌍 Caraça — a park near Mariana with trails for exploring its waterfalls, rivers, lakes and caves
• 🌍 Serra da Canastra National Park — known for its numerous waterfalls, diverse wildlife and for being a haven for the endangered Brazilian Merganser

Minas Gerais was the seedbed of the Brazilian revolution. Inspired by the American and French revolutions, a group of Mineiros, led by Joaquim José da Silva Xavier, nicknamed Tiradentes because he was a dentist, tried to break free from Portuguese rule, but was suppressed. The motto of Minas is Libertas quae sera tamen (Liberty, though it be delayed).

"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.

Mineiros speak Portuguese like other Brazilians, but, for some, the mineiro accent can be difficult to understand. Middle-class young people usually speak at least some English. Spanish on the other hand is spoken by almost nobody, even in the capital. Some expressions are often linked to the concept of the mineiro accent. Examples:

• uai - used liberally as a form of emphasis, often at the end of sentences. It sounds like the English word why, but is basically meaningless and can be ignored. It is also equivalent to ué (less mineiro) and can be replaced for ora (more formal).
• trem - locals use the word for train to mean thing or stuff, as in "Me passa aquele trem ali" ("Pass me that thing over there").

• Trail of Tiradentes - The cobblestone streets of quaint mountain towns such as Congonhas, Ouro Branco, Ouro Preto, Mariana, São João del Rei and Tiradentes hold a great deal of colonial history, largely untouched by time. Grand churches, government buildings, and noble residences abound, their histories entwined with the local gold rush, slavery, and the Inconfidência Mineira, an important early attempt to break free from colonial rule. Many area churches bear the mark of famous architects and artists such as Aleijadinho.

Minas' traditional cuisine is unique but was mainly influenced by the Portuguese. Minas prides itself on its food, and comida mineira restaurants can be found throughout the country.

• Angu - A hearty side-dish similar to polenta, with sausage and collard greens, and sometimes other meats or vegetables.
• Bolinho de mandioca - Fritters made of mandioca, potato, and egg.
• Feijão tropeiro - One of the most typical dishes, consisting of brown beans cooked with pork rinds, eggs, garlic, onion, mandioca flours, and other ingredients.
• Frango com quiabo - Chicken and okra, heavily tempered with garlic, onion, and tomato. Served over rice.
• Queijo mineiro - A white table cheese, popular throughout the country.
• Quibebe - Mashed squash with onions and seasoning.
• Doces Gourmet - sugar candy in the sugar tail

Minas is home to various producers of (the finest, as some might say) cachaça, a very strong drink, often found on recipes for caipirinha cocktails. Its capital, Belo Horizonte, is said to be the "alcoholics' paradise", with more than ten thousand bars and restaurants.

Most big cities have chronic safety problems, which may or may not affect visitors. Some tips to help you:

• Dress simply, without flaunting expensive clothes or jewellery.
• Give preference to going out with a mate.
• If you are being robbed, do not resist.

• Espírito Santo — Although off-the-beaten path, the state east of Minas Gerais has much to offer tourists. The capital Vitória's beautiful bay and bridge; Vila Velha's Convento da Penha (a 16th-century hilltop Franciscan convent); Guarapari's beaches and summer parties; the German-colonized town of Domingos Martins; Pedra Azul State Park's beautiful blue rock; and Itaúnas's dunes and forró (a Northeastern Brazilian dance); are some of the main attractions that should guarantee tourists a good time.