fIf you are in Ouro Preto, you cannot miss this day trip to the Caraça Sanctuary, in Catas Altas. We will see a large religious complex surrounded by lush vegetation. Are you coming?
Description
At the agreed time, we'll come and collect you from Rua Barão de Camargos, 126 and begin this day trip to the Caraça Sanctuary. We'll head towards the city of Catas Altas, in the interior of Minas Gerais.
After a 2-hour drive, we'll arrive at our destination and have a first glimpse of the Nossa Senhora Mãe Dos Homens Church, built between 1876 and 1883. Did you know that it was the first neo-Gothic temple in Brazil? We'll admire its imposing 48-meter-high (157 ft) tower surrounded by the green landscape of the Serra de Caraça.
Afterwards, we'll start a walk of about 2 kilometres until we reach Cascatinha, a 40-metre (131 ft) waterfall formed by 4 waterfalls and 4 natural pools. The yellowish colour of its waters increases or decreases according to the rains since this peculiar tonality comes from the organic matter that descends from the mountains. Amazing!
You'll have free time to relax at the waterfall and, if you wish, you can even take a swim. With your batteries recharged, we'll return to the Caraça Sanctuary complex to have lunch if you want in a local restaurant.
We'll meet again and enter the sanctuary. We'll access the church to see its interior, where a painting of the Last Supper and the baroque image of Nossa Senhora Dos Homens, carved in wood and with clothing painted in gold, stand out.
Then, we'll visit the rest of the buildings that make up the religious complex, such as the calvary, the cloister, the catacombs and the museum. You'll be totally fascinated!
Finally, we'll return to the meeting point in Ouro Preto and end the tour after 11 hours.