Tiradentes

Tiradentes is located 14 km from São João del Rei, 215 km from Belo Horizonte, 325 km from Rio de Janeiro and 483 from São Paulo.

By bus

There are about 10 buses a day from (and to) São João del Rei (8 on weekends). The bus station (Rodoviária) is located near the São Francisco de Paula church at Praça Silva Jardim. Tel: (32) 3355-1100. There are no ticket booths, pay onboard.

By train

On weekends, the maria-fumaça (steam train) leaves the neighbouring city of São João del Rei twice a day (10 am and 3 pm). The 35-minute trip is a nice way to get into town in full "vintage" style.

Cars are allowed to circulate, but given the compact size of the old town, slowly walking around is by far the best way to see and feel the place. The irregular ancient pavement may not be quite friendly to those with locomotion disabilities, though.

Buildings from times long gone and the cobblestone streets give Tiradentes a very special feeling. Its main attractions include:

Churches

• Church of Saint AnthonyBeautiful church constructed in 1732 with the richest gold foil interior of any church in Brazil. No photography allowed inside.

• Rosário dos Pretos

• São Francisco de PaulaThe nicest views of Tiradentes, from a hilltop.

Museums

• Casa da Cultura

• Padre Toledo

• Yves Alves Cultural Center

Other structures

• ChafarizA fountain dating back to the 1700s.

• Old Town Council Hall

• Stone Bridge

• Small Carriage tours leave the Largo das Forras square and the train station to visit the main attractions in the old town. The 1-hour ride costs R$ 15 and carries up to 4 persons.
• Trekking in the nearby mountains of Serra de São José.
• Cultural and gastronomic festival in August

There are many sweets and crafts shops around town. Most of the crafts are actually made by people living at the Bichinho district, separated from town by a narrow 7 km long dust road. Go there if you want to get cheaper prices buy from the artists directly, but be prepared to gold-dig a little bit.

Budget

• Dona Xepa

  phone: +55 32 3355-1767
  address: Rua Ministro Gabriel Passos, 26
  A - Centro.

• Santa Fé

  phone: +55 32 8859-5668
  address: Av. Governador Israel Pinheiro, 72
  Espaço Libertas Cultural.

• Tempero da Ângela

  phone: +55 32 3353-7010
  Rua Deputado José Bonifácio Filho, 64 - Bichinho.

Mid-range

• Archote Clube - Carnes e Preparações Artesanais

  phone: +55 32 8864-1403, +55 32 8818-3353
  address: Rua Frederico Ozanan, 320
  Centro Histórico.

• Calabouço

  phone: +55 32 8841-4906
  address: Rua da Cadeia, 38
  Centro.

• Ora-pró-Nóbis

  phone: +55 32 3355-1656
  address: Rua do Chafariz, 37

• Sabor Rural

  phone: +55 32 9934-4005
  Estrada da Caixa D`água, Km 04 (a 4 Km da Estação de Trem).

• Pau de Angu

  phone: +55 32 9948-1692
  Estrada p/ Bichinho.

• Porta do Céu

  phone: +55 32 3355-1771
  address: Rua Frei Veloso, 1
  002 - Pacu - Estrada Real.

• Pasta & cia

  phone: +55 32 3355-1478
  address: Rua Frederico Ozanan, 327
  Fone:. Home-made pasta, nice for when you want to take a break from those all-Brazilian dishes.

• Viradas do Largo

  phone: +55 32 3355-1111
  address: Rua do Moinho, 11
  Also known as restaurante da Beth (Beth's restaurant) this place is slightly off the tourist trail but well worth a visit for fine examples of typical mineiro regional food such as the tropeiro beans. The dishes are expensive for local standards (R$ 50-55 for two) but well prepared and well-served: a plate for two may well fill up three people.

Splurge

• Atrás da Matriz

  phone: +55 32 3355-2150
  address: Rua Santíssima Trindade, 201

• Santíssima Gula

  phone: +55 32 3355-1162
  address: Rua Padre Gaspar, 343
  Santíssima Trindade.

• Tragaluz

  phone: +55 32 3355-1424
  address: Rua Direita, 52
  Centro Histórico.

• Trattoria Via Destra

  phone: +55 32 3355-1906
  address: Rua Direita, 45
  Centro.

There are several bars in and around the Largo das Forras square.

• Confidências mineiras - Ateliê de cachaça

  phone: +55 32 3355-2770
  address: Rua Ministro Gabriel Passos, 26
  Centro.

• Sabor Rural

  phone: +55 32 9934-4005
  Estrada da Caixa d'Água, Km 04 (a 4 Km da Estação do Trem).

Bottles of fine Brazilian cachaça can be bought in many shops scattered around town.

There are several choices of pousadas in Tiradentes, ranging from simple, basic pensions to nice comfortable inns housed in historic buildings. Many hotels can also be found outside the old town and in nearby rural areas.
The city is a very popular weekend and holiday destination, so it's advisable to book in advance during those peak periods. New Year, Carnaval and Holy Week are particularly busy. Check the calendar of Brazil holidays for precise dates. The food festival in August is also considered high season.
Many people choose to sleep at nearby São João del Rei, a larger and less touristy city.

Budget

• Pousada da Íris

  phone: +55 32 3355-1331
  address: Rua Joaquim Ramalho, 37
  Cuiabá.

• Pousada São José da Serra

  phone: +55 32 3355-1112
  address: Rua dos Inconfidentes, 247
  Centro.

• Pouso da Rita

  phone: +55 32 3355-1169
  Rua Maria Augusta do Nascimento, 123 - Cuiabá.

• Pousada 21 de Abril

  phone: +55 32 3355-1438
  address: Rua Joaquim Ramalho, 417
  Cuiabá.

Mid-range

• Pousada Coração Inconfidente

  phone: +55 32 3355-2464
  address: Rua dos Inconfidentes, 120
  Centro.

• Pousada do Ó

  phone: +55 32 3355-1699
  address: Rua do Chafariz, 25
  Centro.

• Pousada Quatro Corações

  phone: +55 32 3355-1281
  address: Rua Joaquim Ramalho, 190
  Cuiabá.

Splurge

• Pousada Brisa da Serra

  phone: +55 32 3355-1838
  address: Rua Santíssima Trindade, 520
  Santíssima Trindade.

• Pousada Dom Quixote

  phone: +55 32 3355-1933
  address: Rua Francisco Pereira de Moraes, 69 - Canjica

• Pousada dos Inconfidentes

  phone: +55 32 3355-2135
  address: Rua João Rodrigues Sobrinho, 91

• Pousada Pequena Tiradentes

  phone: +55 32 3355-1262
  address: Av. Governador Israel Pinheiro, 670
  Estação.

• Pousada Villa Paolucci

  phone: +55 32 3355-1350
  Final da Rua do Chafariz.

• Pousada Xica da Silva

  phone: +55 32 3355-2000
  address: Av. Governador Israel Pinheiro, 400
  Estação.

• Solar da Ponte

  phone: +55 32 3355-1255
  Praça das Mercês, s/nº - Centro Histórico.

There are buses to/from São Joao del Rei nearly every 40 minutes, departing from the bus station.