Santa Bárbara, Minas Gerais, Southeast Region, Brazil

🇧🇷 Santa Bárbara is a Brazilian municipality founded in 1704 and located in the state of Minas Gerais. It is a historic town on the Gold Circuit of Minas Gerais, located ninety-eight km from Belo Horizonte, in the centre of the Estrada Real. The bucolic landscape, with its churches, roofs and backyards at the foot of the imposing Serra do Caraça makes Santa Bárbara one of the most beautiful towns in Minas Gerais. Despite the current increase in economic development, it is a peaceful and welcoming town with simple and hospitable people who preserve their traditions and live an active cultural life.

History It was established as "Hamlet of St. Anthony of the Santa Bárbara River" on December 4, 1704, by the pioneer Antônio Pereira, of São Paulo, who found there alluvial gold and lodes of precious stones. An interesting fact is that this pioneer founded the hamlet of Brumal just before then, and until today the anniversary of the district is commemorated on the eve of the municipality. In 1713 they started construction of the church of St. Anthony. Consequently, the city turned into an important passage in the route between the Corte, in Rio de Janeiro, and the central/northern mines of Minas Gerais. In 1817 it was visited by the expedition of naturalists Carl Friedrich Philipp von Martius and Johann Baptist von Spix in their passage through the jungle. It was elevated to town on March 15, 1839, and in 1858 to a county with the name "Santa Bárbara do Mato Dentro".

Economy Currently its economy is based on iron and gold mining. The city also produces honey and charcoal in large scale.

Culture and tourism The city's tourist attractions include some constructions from the 18th century including the church Matriz de Santa Bárbara which was dedicated to St. Anthony and built in 1724. It was made in colonial baroque style, and was recently renovated highlighting the ship's ceiling painted by master Manoel da Costa Ataíde.

The municipality contains about 45% of the 31,270 hectares (77,300 acres) Serra do Gandarela National Park, created in 2014.

Education The city was a pioneer in music education in public schools in Brazil, with the "Music in Schools" project. Portuguese is the official national language, and thus the primary language taught in schools. English and Spanish are both taught as second languages.

Sport As in the rest of Brazil, football is the most popular sport among locals.

Districts Santa Bárbara has four districts: Florália, Barra Feliz, Brumal and Conceição do Rio Acima. Besides these, the city also houses several subdistricts and rural communities: Sumidouro, Santana do Morro, Galego, Vigário da Vara, Cruz dos Peixotos, André do Mato Dentro, Barro Branco, Cachoeira de Florália, Mutuca and Costa Lacerda.