This day trip from Belo Horizonte visits the beautifully preserved colonial towns of Ouro Preto and Mariana, jewels of the 18th-century Brazilian gold rush and UNESCO World Heritage sites. With a guide, visitors explore cobbled streets, ornate Baroque churches adorned with works by the sculptor Aleijadinho, and the mining history of Minas Gerais. The dramatic mountain setting and rich heritage make it one of the most rewarding excursions from the city, immersing travellers in Brazils colonial past.