Tiradentes |
Tiradentes has its origins at Arraial de Santo Antônio do Rio das Mortes, dated
from the middle of 1702. The first residents were explorers in search of gold – and an opportunity to change their lives – in the country side
of Brazil. The river became famous during Guerra dos Emboabas and was named Rio das Mortes because the bodies of the combatants killed in the
conflict were thrown there.
In the same time, the hamlet which nowadays became São João del Rei was also being
created and was named Arraial Novo do Rio das Mortes, making Arraial de Santo Antônio do Rio das Mortes to be named as Arraial Velho. The name
endured until 1718, when the settlement was elevated to Vila de São José, in homage to the portuguese prince Dom José.
Thanks to the gold, the village grew. Churches, chapels and small palaces were
built by great artists of that time, especially Antônio Francisco Lisboa, known as Aleijadinho, who idealized Matriz de Santo Antônio. When the
gold mines started to deplete, in the beginning of the 19th century, the village passed through a moment of decadence, especially because the
agricultural and livestock activities were not enough to keep the economy growing.
With the Proclamação da República (Republic Proclamation), in 1889, the location
changed name again in an attempt to get separated from the imperial times. It adopted then the name of “Tiradentes”, in homage to the martyr of
Inconfidência Mineira, Joaquim José da Silva Xavier, who was supposedly born there. However, other cities of the region also lay claim the title
of homeland of the martyr, among them São João del Rei and Ouro Preto.
During the 30’s, Tiradentes was acknowledged as Historic Patrimony, due to the
influence exerted by intellectuals of “Semana de Arte Moderna de 1922” who visited the city in 1924. But further efforts are not necessary to
notice that the city presents an expressive architectonical heritage, composed by buildings from the 18th century, religious or civil.
Today, it’s one of the main tour destinations of Minas Gerais country side, since it preserves the architecture, colors and the aura of the
colonial epoch. |
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