Minas Gerais

Minas Gerais State

Area: 587,200sq.km/226,700sq.mi

Population: 14,600,000

Capital: Belo Horizonte

Situation and Characteristics

The state of Minas Gerais in the Brazilian Highlands owes its name ("General Mines") to its enormous wealth of minerals. In addition to precious metals and precious and semi-precious stones its mines yield iron, nickel and manganese ores, bauxite and uranium.

Minas Baroque

The almost incalculable wealth produced by the mines of Minas Gerais led in the 18th century to vigorous building activity, reaching its peak in the style known as Minas Baroque. The leading exponent of the style was the architect and sculptor Antìnio Francisco Lisboa, known as Aleijadinho