Brazil: Sao Joao del Rei

From Petropolis we headed into Mina Gerais, first to Sao Joao del Rei, founded by the 18th-century gold rush. While the city has many old churches, two of the best ones are closed for renovation, the Cathedral (1st below) and San Francisco (2nd below). Yet every morning around sunrise, there would be hundreds of strikes of church bells, far and near. The view from the sidewalk just outside our Airbnb in an historic house (3rd below).







The town is not particularly touristy, and doesn't seem to be particularly concerned about tourists. Nevertheless the townspeople are particularly hospitable and the local buses are free. There is a university. We later looked it up. Brazil's public universities are federally run, tuition free, and educate almost 10% of the college age kids, with quotas and assistance for low income and historically disadvantaged groups. We have been so impressed with Brazil in so many different ways.

Looking to Igreja de Nossa Senhora do Carmo (1st below) and Carmo at night (2nd and 3rd below)






The Sao Joao City Hall catches the eye for sure.


On ascending a compelling set of stone steps, there is a city view from Igreja de Nossa Senhora das Mercês. We walked up those steps at least 3 times to take in the view; once at night.






There is a tourist train that runs several times a day from Sao Joao del Rei to nearby Tiradentes and back. The old station (below) is pretty cool.






The morning we left San Joao we first walked up to their Cristo Redentor for a view of the city.




Church of Nossa Senhora do Rosário.


Teatro Municipal