# Lavras

Lavras is a town in Southern Minas Gerais.

## Understand

Lavras means 'mines' in Portuguese. Located at the Green Valley and Waterfalls tourist circuit, it is also near Waters circuit – a series of spas in the state of São Paulo and Minas Gerais – and the Inconfidentes Trail circuit – a historical region of Minas.
The construction of the Funil Hydroelectric Plant was completed in 2002, which changed the countryside by the dam's formed lake. Located at an altitude of 920 m, it has a population of 105,000 inhabitants (2020).

## Get In

From Belo Horizonte the intercity bus Expresso Gardenia lets you join the ride for R$95 (Dec 2021), Buser for R$60 (Dec 2021). Blablacar rides are for around R$55 (Dec 2021).

## See

Lavras is part of the Vale Verde and Quedas D'Água tourist circuit. In addition to the cultural options offered by museums, theaters and local university campuses, the following places are considered tourist attractions:
* Cachoeira dos Ipês (located in the Cruzes stream): has an exuberant fall and surroundings and is just 13 km from the city center
* Comunidade do Funil: community formed in 2000, after the flooding of the Usina do Funil lake
* Serra da Bocaina: high point of the municipality, from where you can have a broad view of the region. Depending on the visibility, it is possible to see the city of São Thomé das Letras, Luminárias, São Bento Abade, Ijaci and other neighboring cities;
* Jardim Campestre green area: woods close to the Jardim Glória and Campestre I, II and III neighborhoods, on the way to becoming an Ecological Park
Buildings in the central region
* Nossa Senhora do Rosário Church (Lavras): built between 1751 and 1754 and known as Matriz de Sant'Ana until 1917. It was listed by the National Institute of Historical Heritage in 1948
* Bi Moreira Museum : located on the historic campus of the Federal University of Lavras, it was inaugurated in 1983, safeguarding the historic collection of the municipality of Lavras
* Natural History Museum: also located on the historic campus of UFLA, opened in 2001
* Train stations: Midwest (North Zone) and Costa Pinto (South Zone)
* Baldwin Locomotive : popularly called " Maria-Smoke ", which took passengers from 1929 to 1969, exhibited at Praça Doutor José Esteves, near the Railway Station and warehouses of the former RFFSA )
* Praça Dr. Augusto Silva: large green area in the center of Lavras, this municipal garden was inaugurated in 1908
* Obelisk at Praça Leonardo Venerando Pereira: erected in 1944, it is a geographical landmark and a monument dedicated to Lavrense youth;
* House of Culture : building from 1849, located at Rua Sant'Ana, it was in the past the seat of the city of Lavras;
* Cachoeira do Faria: waterfall that is close to the Bocaina mountain range
* Capivari River : a watercourse that rises in the Serra da Chapada das Perdizes, in Carrancas , and flows into the Rio Grande .
* Dam Lake and Funil Hydroelectric Power Plant.
* Sant'Ana Mother Church (Lavras) : built between 1904 and 1917, the city's main Catholic church
* Trilha das Lagoas, a self-guided trail at the Federal University of Lavras.

## Do

* Quedas do Rio Bonito Ecological Park : forest reserve maintained by the Abraham Kasinski Association . The park area comprises many attractions, such as waterfalls, hiking trails and arena, pedal boats, natural pools, toboggan, restaurant, lookout, waterfall, zip line, tree climbing circuit and playground

## Buy

Crafts Fair - on Sundays at Praça Dr. Augusto Silva

## Eat

* Restaurante Anttares
* Restaurante da Thaís
* Restaurante Pickles

## Drink

* Bar do Custódio - Rua Doutor Melo Viana, 180 - comidinha di buteco
* Bar do Gilvan

## Sleep

* Cama e Café Hotel
* Lavras Apart Hotel
* Vitória Palace
* Serema Palace Hotel
* Hotel Ipê

## Go next
#### in the east:

* São João del Rei – 90 km. It is the largest of the colonial mining towns in Minas Gerais. There is a steam locomotive to the nearby town of Tiradentes. The intercity bus Viação São Cristóvão goes directly for R$40 (Dec 2021).
* Juiz de Fora – 250 km. The presence of immigrants – especially from Portugal, Italy, Germany, Syria and Lebanon and more recently China – throughout its history has given the city a cosmopolitan spirit and diverse cuisine. It's a gay-friendly city. It's nickname is "Manchester Mineira". The bus of Transur goes twice a week for R$96 (Dec 2021). Otherwise you go first to São João del Rei and change the bus there. From Juiz de Fora further to Petrópolis.

#### in the north-east:

* Divinópolis – 170 km. The highlights are the Lake of Roses and the beach at Carmo do Cajuru. Viação Christóvão has direct rides for R$64 (Dec 2021).
* Belo Horizonte