From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Estrada Real
Estrada Real
The Estrada Real (Portuguese pronunciation: [iʃˈtɾadɐ ʁeˈaw], Many of Brazil’s hearty dishes, such as feijão tropeiro and
Royal Road) is a colonial-era road in Brazil. Portuguese tutu, were originally prepared by the tropeiros, who need-
colonists of Brazil and their African slaves began building ed food that could be transported without spoiling.
the Estrada Real in 1697 shortly after gold, diamonds, and The towns along the Estrada Real were opulent in the
other precious minerals were discovered in the present- days of gold and diamonds, but by the end of the 18th
day state of Minas Gerais. The purpose of the road was century, the minerals became more scarce and the econ-
to facilitate the movement of those minerals from the omy went into decline. Recent efforts by governmen-
interior to the coast and thence to Lisbon. The original tal and non-governmental organizations are turning the
road—the Caminho Velho—began in Paraty and went Estrada Real into a route that leads tourists through the
north through the towns of São João del-Rey, Tiradentes, cradle of Brazilian culture. The road is still mostly un-
Coronel Xavier Chaves, Congonhas, Itatiaia and, ulti- paved, and the towns and villages along the way appear
mately, Vila Rica, today’s Ouro Preto. Later, the distance much the way they did in the 19th century. Magnificent
to Ouro Preto was shortened by the Caminho Novo, churches still stand in towns that have been economical-
which started from Rio de Janeiro. The road was extend- ly stagnant for over a century. The tourism initiative is
ed northward through Mariana, Catas Altas, Santa Bár- educating people to retain their traditional ways and pre-
bara, Barão de Cocais, Ipoema, Conceição deo Mato Den- serve the Baroque architecture of their old churches and
tro, Serro, São Gonçalo do Rio das Pedras, and, at the government buildings.[1]
northernmost point, Diamantina. The length of both
roads combined is about 1,400 km (850 mi).
Transportation along the road was tightly controlled
References
by agents of the Crown to prevent smuggling and unau- [1] Cheney, Glenn Alan, Journey on the Estrada Real:
thorized movement. Goods were transported in mule Encounters in the Mountains of Brazil, (Chicago:
trains known as tropas, led by tropeiro mule drivers. Prod- Academy Chicago, 2004) ISBN 0-89733-530-9
ucts from Portugal made their way up the road while
minerals made their way to the coast, as manufacturing
and many crops were prohibited by the Crown so as to
External links
keep the region economically dependent on Portugal. • Instituto Estrada Real
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Estrada_Real&oldid=468317809"
Categories:
• Colonial Brazil
• Road transport in Brazil
• Portuguese colonization of the Americas
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