A sample of those little black nuggets got its way to Rio de Janeiro, under the eyes of the governor, who had already previously received similar ones from the mines of Itaverava. As soon as its value was realized the gold rush began. Tales populated the imagination of adventurers, who introduced themselves up and down through the forests and the wild, in search of a geographical point of reference that would lead to the glory, a so-called peak Ita-corumi (the stone-rock boy in Tupi language), now Itacolomi. Resting down on its foot were the most dreamed-of and sought-for gold mines.

The bandeira expedition led by Antonio Dias was the first to reach the site, in 1698. The establishment of a primitive settlement took place in the heights of São João mountain, where it was also celebrated the first catholic mass by priest João de Faria Fialho, one of the fellow travellers. A relatively small group, that was later on to be multiplied by the thousands. Thirty years later, the place was to boast near 40 thousand people, the biggest agglomeration of all Latin America. Forty thousand different interests... And gold, although plenty and abundant, was certainly not enough to satiate ambition. Confrontations soon began.

While in the maritime coast the brazilian colonial society remained plastered in a closed structure, in Minas Gerais' territory a social chaos had been born and it moved vividly . Ambition was the locomotive, gold was the fuel. Social ascension, albeit difficult, was possible: a lucky gold search and some astuteness was enough. Merchants, craftsmen, engineers, lawyers, clergy, noblemen, doctors, poets, servants... Eclecticism was firming itself, generating a new conscience, a libertine spirit, capable of walking with its own feet. It was not an easy task. Say it Felipe dos Santos and the revolutionary inconfidentes (see "Dream of Liberty").

Minas Gerais was growing fast and in 1720 became an independent capitania territory, and the capital was transferred to Vila Rica. Gold was being found as nowhere else, turning King Solomon's stories of splendor into unpretentious fairy tales. Marking this era, a magnificent festival was held in 1733 to celebrate the transfer of the Holiest Sacrament from the church of Rosário to the main mother church of Pilar. Chronicle writers of the time narrate the pomp of the clothing and fashionable wearing by the paraders, decorated with gold and precious stones.