The gold cycle was one of the economic cycles of colonial Brazil, when the Portuguese explored the metal and gemstones in the territory that is today occupied by the States of Minas Gerais, Goiás and Mato Grosso. Minas Gerais had a major role in this scenario, and the Gold Museum features historical details of the Gold Cycle.
The museum operates in a house, where the gold extracted from the old district of Rio das Velhas used to be coined and taxed. Opened in 1946, it is administered by the Brazilian Institute of Museums (Ibram). Its collection includes tools and equipment related to mining activities and the museum is a great place to understand how the extraction worked.
The collection also includes furniture, silverware, weapons and various mining-related objects. The most striking piece in the Gold Museum is the oldest press to be used in a cast house, in the year 1670, which marked the Portuguese seal on gold. There are models showing how mining evolved.
R$ 1.00.
Free for public schools, residents of Sabará, people over 65 and children under 5.
Address
Rua da Intendência, s/n, Centro – Sabará, MG
If you are in Sabará already, take this opportunity to explore the town a bit further and walk along its streets.
Sabará is located about 25 Km from Belo Horizonte and you can take a bus in downtown Belo Horizonte (lines 4988 or 4987) to get there.