Gold war responsible for the urban development of Minas Gerais. In the course of a few decades, Ouro Preto, Mariana, Congonhas do Campo, Tiradentes, São João del Rei, Sabará and Diamantina sprang up, towns which still today bear witness to the rich of past times. Alone in the interior of the church Igreja Matriz de Nossa Senhora do Pilar, in Ouro preto, 434 kilograms of gold were used. The architectural style of this era, which manifests itself primarily in secular buildings, marks a milestone of authentic Brazilian culture. Inspired by Portuguese Baroque, masters such as Aleijadinho developed their own style: the Brazilian Baroque. With the decline of gold production at the close of the 18th century, the gold rush in Brazil came to an end. Well-kept monuments in the form of churches, sculptures, houses and other buildings remain from this epoch, which comprise the cultural treasure of the historic cities of Minas Gerais.