The Golden Path (Royal Road)
The gold flowed through Paraty financed Portugal and part of Europe in the 19th century. XVIII. The path was rediscovered in 1998 and opened to the public in 2003 — today it is one of the main ecotourism trails in the region.
What happened
Built by enslaved hands on ancient indigenous trails, the Caminho do Ouro connected the mines of Minas Gerais to the port of Paraty. In 1728, around 16,000 "men, animals and slaves" passed through each month, paying a toll of 2 patacas per person. Paraty became the largest gold exporting port in colonial Brazil. The route was over 1,500 km long.
Why does it matter
The gold flowed through Paraty financed Portugal and part of Europe in the 19th century. XVIII. The path was rediscovered in 1998 and opened to the public in 2003 — today it is one of the main ecotourism trails in the region.
Related locations
- Caminho do Ouro Trail (Paraty Mirim)
- Serra da Bocaina
Sources
- Estrela Tours
- paulogala.com.br
- Wikipedia – Caminho Velho