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Text: Lana Sassaki
Photos (except those credited): Marcelo JB Resende
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Hidden inside a dense
fog, the Itacolomi Peak imposes a
mystic air to the historical scenery
of Ouro Preto and Mariana. In tupi
guarani indian language, the name means
"the rock and the little boy". For native
indians, the peak was seen as the
youngster son of the mountain. It is easy
to imagine this feeling: a huge rock with
a smaller little one to its side.
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Long before the arrival
of the first explorers, behind the
metaphors and aboriginal beliefs, the
Itacolomi seemed to wait the time to
become the most important landmark in
the dawning of the gold cycle. After being
found, the history of Minas Gerais and of
Brazil would never be the same.
It is doubted who came across
the first nugget of the precious metal. The
region where the now state park is located
was scene to various expeditions, such as
the one led by Bartolomeu Bueno da Siqueira
and Antonio Rodrigues Arzão. The first
bandeira expedition to really find gold was
probably the one commanded by Duarte Lopes,
by the end of the 17th century. It is widely
believed that a member of his group found
small dark little rocks when he reached
down the valley of the Tripuí creek (Tupi
indian language for speedy water). The
stones were taken to Rio de Janeiro, only
to be realized they actually consisted of
gold of the purest carat, covered by a thin
layer of iron oxide. Hence its dark looks.
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Landmark of the Eldorado, the
peak played the role of a geographic reference
to the various bandeira expeditions that came
in search of the black gold mines. Thanks to the
sublime vision the Itacolomi Peak offered the
adventurous travelers, the bandeirante leader
Antonio Dias de Oliveira managed to locate again
the idyllic valley of the Tripuí, in 1698. And
there she was, the Rock and the little Boy, the
Ita-corumi. So Vila Rica was born, the village
with no childhood… So Mariana was born, the
first capital village... So Minas Gerais was
born... And Itacolomi was a silent witness to
everything.
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The Itacolomi State Park
reveals some secrets of the Eldorado and
of many histories of Minas Gerais and is
today a rich source for studies and
researches. Gold expeditions for long have
given way to research expeditions, such as
that of the bavarian naturalists Spix and
von Martius (1818). Besides being an
outstanding tourist site, it attracts also
the curiosity of specialists all over the
world. The impression bore on the visitor,
when reaching the peak in the first dawning
hours of the day, is that the dense mist
will suddenly dissipate, bringing back
old Vila Rica and its historical personages.
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