ESTRADA REAL: THE BIGGEST TOURIST ROAD FROM , RECOVERS TRADITIONS OF THE OLD PATH OF TROPEIROS1

The so called Estrada Real (Royal Road) covers over 1,630 km in length in , and São Paulo states (southeast region of Brazil). Estrada Real is the biggest Brazilian tourist route and its name is used since Brazil was a colony of , in the seventeenth century. Firstly, the name was used to identify the ways through which gold and diamonds mined in the interior of Minas Gerais were transported until the coast of Rio de Janeiro and forwarded to the metropolis. Nowadays, Estrada Real was transformed into a tourism program pioneer in the country, rescuing local traditions, promoting the socioeconomic development and offering qualified sustainable tourism.

Cultural, historical, gastronomical, nature and adventure attractions are distinguished options already offered on package tours. They are the history and culture of latent villages of , Mariana, Diamantina, Tiradentes, São Joao Del-Rei (all located in Minas Gerais) and (Rio de Janeiro) through adventure and nature preserved of Cipó’s and Mantiqueira’s mountains, its rivers and lush waterfalls. Contemporary culture is also present in attractions such as Inhotim Contemporary Art Museum in Brumadinho, where gardens designed by Burle Marx surround galleries exposing pieces produced by renowned artists such as Franz Ackermann. A plenty of opportunities are found in almost all destinations, sharpening creativity and curiosity of tourists.

Estrada Real tourism program, managed by Instituto Estrada Real, is a model of public-private partnership, and overpasses a condition of being a concept to turn into

1 people responsible for transporting cargo thru precarious roads of the colonial period.

Rua: Alvares Maciel 59 – 11 andar Tel.: (31) 3241- 7166 www.estradareal.org.br

a vector of sustained economic and social development, aligned with the objectives of the Federation of Industries of the State of Minas Gerais -- entity founder of the Institute - and operated in shared-management way with the Government of the State of Minas Gerais, through the Secretariat of Tourism of the State of Minas Gerais, and with a partnership with Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). Created on October, 5 1999, as non-profitable civil society, Instituto Estrada Real aims to organize, promote and manage the tourism product Estrada Real, involving a total of 198 villages, being 168 in Minas Gerais, 8 in Rio de Janeiro and 22 in Sao Paulo.

Rua: Alvares Maciel 59 – 11 andar Tel.: (31) 3241- 7166 www.estradareal.org.br