| GOLD PATHWAY |
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| The Gold Pathway conserves the pavement with original stone. |
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| The Gold Pathway is an old Indian track which united the tribes from Paraty with the others from Vale do Paraíba. In 1660, it was widened by Salvador Correa de Sá' order and had its course lightly modified. In the beginning of the century XVIII was paved with stones, taken out from the near rivers, becoming a way for flowing off the gold from the mines (minas gerais) and also for providing it with foodstuff. |
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| History and nature come together by the paved road with stones which begins nearby Paraty and ends in High Mountain. The beautiful nature, full of trees, streamlets and waterfalls involve a tragic history with blood, sweat and gold. Gold which brings happiness for some people, but sweat and blood for many Indians and slaves forced to work in the mines, in the road constructions and in the gold loading. During Brazil colonization, this track was used by the Portuguese to conquer the regions of Vale do Paraíba and Minas Gerais. The troops of mules went up and down these tracks so intensively that it was necessary to pave the road to support the traffic. |
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| The paved route with stones begins, in its lower part, along with the Penha church , ending, approximately, ten kilometers above, nearby the limits of Paraty and Cunha. The best part of the way is the forest, but some routes are covered by land and vegetation, and others were destroyed by weather and by man. But in almost the whole route, the stone pavement was visible. |
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| Mirador in the Gold Pathway |
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| A tour by the Gold Pathway can be made by three forms, described and planned in the chapter Trekking: |
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| 1 - Section inside the "Sítio Histórico e Ecológico Caminho do Ouro" (SHECO): through private effort, Historians, Archeologists and Architects were hired to recover the section of the pathway located in this ranch. In this place, it was found ruins from the "Casa do Quinto". The historical and ecological ranch organizes tours taking tourist coming from Paraty. Information can be obtained in the travel agencies of the city. |
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| 2- Section below the "Sítio Histórico e Ecológico Caminho do Ouro": this section is partially destroyed by time and men action. It begins just before SHECO and ends in the Tobogã waterfall. |
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| 3 - Complete Section: it begins along with the ruin of the Bar "Fecha Nunca", located in the high mountain and, ends at Tobogã waterfall, passing by "Sítio Histórico e Ecológico Caminho do Ouro". |
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