Brazil 🇧🇷 | Mariana: The Forgotten Baroque Gem

✨Tucked away in Minas Gerais, the colonial town of Mariana rarely makes it onto tourist itineraries. The only clue that drew me here? Its recurring mention in anthologies of Portuguese-American Baroque art—a silent testament to its faded glory. 🩷Once a thriving hub of the 18th-century gold rush, Mariana (alongside neighboring towns like Ouro Preto, Ouro Branco, Diamantina, and Congonhas) was part of Brazil’s gilded heartland. Today, the opulence of Minas Gerais lies humbled—its grandeur "cast from heaven to earth," as the locals say. 🍃Stay Tip: Book a room at Pousada Gamarano, a charming guesthouse with understated elegance. The owner, a sprightly elderly gentleman, embodies Brazilian warmth—his kindness and eagerness to help foreign visitors (including this humble traveler) added immeasurable joy to my journey. Why Visit? ✔️Baroque Time Capsule: Explore churches like Igreja de São Francisco de Assis, adorned with Aleijadinho’s sculptures and gold-leafed altars. ✔️Ghosts of Gold: Wander cobbled streets where colonial mansions whisper tales of boom and bust. ✔️Hidden Authenticity: Unlike touristy Ouro Preto, Mariana feels frozen in time—with zero crowds. #travel guide#Brazil#Mariana#Quintal Marianatrip diary