The small community of João Monlevade stands in the southeast of Brazil, in the State of Minas Gerais. You'll find João Monlevade 75 miles east of the State capital of Belo Horizonte on the BR-381 amid a region of winding river valleys and forests. Belo Horizonte's attractions are within a day trip, and these include museums, galleries and the enormous Mineirão soccer stadium. Itabira is the main city in the immediate region and this iron-ore mining centre is easily reached if you have a hire car. The international airport at Tancredo Neves at Confins serves the State of Minas Gerais.
Much of the modern Brazilian town of João Monlevade lies in the twisting valley of the River Piracicaba where several roads converge to cross the river via a single road bridge. The river is named after a tributary of the Tiete River in Sao Paulo by early settlers who came from São Paulo. Some of João Monlevade lies down by the river but if you hire a car here you'll soon be able to find that the main shops and bars of the community lie in a busier built-up area to the west.
