Brumadinho combines nature, art and local history, offering a variety of reasons to visit. Inhotim is located in Brumadinho and encompasses 140 hectares of visitor grounds between the Atlantic Forest and Cerrado biomes. São José do Paraopeba offers a different cultural perspective, as one of Brumadinho’s oldest settlements, with a rich Afro-Brazilian history and culture. The focus is clearly distinct: Inhotim is known for art outdoors and in galleries, while São José do Paraopeba is known for local history, its church and festival traditions.

Art and Landscape at Inhotim

Inhotim features more than 900 works by 50 artists from over 18 countries, displayed outdoors and in galleries. Its international participation and two modes of presentation define its focus on art. If art is the reason for your trip, you can explore these types of exhibitions alongside the expansive visitor grounds; the 140 hectares lie between the Atlantic Forest and Cerrado.

Its origins have a longer history: Bernardo de Mello Paz conceived Inhotim in the 1980s. In 2006, an open-air museum was established there on the iron-rich soil of a farm in the region. The concept therefore dates back to the 1980s, while 2006 marks the year the open-air museum was established.

History and Festival Traditions in São José do Paraopeba

São José do Paraopeba complements the focus on art with local history. The district is considered one of Brumadinho’s oldest settlements and has a rich Afro-Brazilian history and culture. The Matriz de São José is the main church of the São José parish and gives the area a tangible religious connection.

The traditional Festa de São José is also part of this cultural focus. It is celebrated every year in March in São José do Paraopeba. If you would like to plan your trip around the festival, check the specific dates for the year in question.

The range of options can be summarized briefly when deciding what to focus on: Inhotim combines art displayed outdoors and in galleries with a landscape described as lying between two biomes. In São José do Paraopeba, the focus is on settlement history, Afro-Brazilian culture, the parish church and the March festival. If you are traveling in March, the Festa de São José may be a factor in planning your dates.

Minas Gerais as a Broader Travel Region

The Parque Estadual da Serra do Rola-Moça is also located in the broader travel region of Minas Gerais. The park has several hiking trails; the self-guided Trilha do Cerrado is 2.4 kilometers long and begins at the park headquarters. If you are considering this trail, check current trail conditions with the park administration before visiting.

Minas Gerais has 94 protected areas, which safeguard almost 2 million hectares across the three biomes of the Atlantic Forest, Cerrado and Caatinga. Tourism is established in 17 of the state’s nature parks. Travelers can experience nature, cultural and historical heritage, and gastronomy throughout Minas Gerais. The craft of bell ringers and the artisanal production of Minas cheese are also recognized as Brazilian cultural heritage in the state.

Discover more destinations: Cachoeira de Minas, Manhuaçu, Resplendor, Ouro Preto, Mato Verde, Borda da Mata, Lagoa Dourada, Itaguara

For the broader travel overview: Minas Gerais.