Mines were intensively exploited and most of the gold found was sent to Portugal. The then-captaincy of Minas Gerais was one of the strongest in the extraction, basically concentrated in the cities of Mariana and Ouro Preto.
Today the Passage Mine is a tourist attraction that gives a good idea of the mining period. Located in Mariana, the mine allows you to live the experience of getting to know a gold mine in person. The descent to the underground galleries is done through a trolley. You can reach 120 meters deep, and the first thing you see is a huge lake.
It is impossible not to be astonished with the view inside a gold mine, all the more so when it has such magnitude. Since this mine was founded, it is estimated that 35 tons of gold were extracted from there. Inside, the temperature is always between 17 and 20°C.
R$ 50.00 per person (R$ 25.00 for students and people over 60). Children up to 6 years old are free.
Address
R. Eugenio E. Rapallo, 192, Passagem de Mariana - Mariana, MG
The best way to get to the mine is by car. It’s located on MG 262 highway connecting Mariana to Ouro Preto. See the path leaving from Belo Horizonte and from Mariana.
There are buses leaving from Mariana that pass in front of the Mine. Get more information from the Associação Marianense de Turismo.