A view of the Camera e Cadeia (Chamber and Jail) building in Mariana, the oldest city in Minas Gerais state, founded in 1703. The town was the first capital of the state and the building served as the government seat. Development of the region was fueled by the discovery of gold in the 18th century, which is the reason for the multitude of colonial cities. Today the state still depends on mining, but now it is iron-ore and other industrial minerals. (Australfoto/Douglas Engle)

A view of the Camera e Cadeia (Chamber and Jail) building in Mariana, the oldest city in Minas Gerais state, founded in 1703. The town was the first capital of the state and the building served as the government seat. Development of the region was fueled by the discovery of gold in the 18th century, which is the reason for the multitude of colonial cities. Today the state still depends on mining, but now it is iron-ore and other industrial minerals. (Australfoto/Douglas Engle)