São João del-Rei
Founded in 1713 in homage to king John V of Portugal, the city is famed for its historic Portuguese colonial architecture.The original small village situated in southern Minas Gerais was created as a staging post on the Estrada Real, a trade route from the coast at Paraty to cities in the central region of Minas Gerais such as Ouro Preto, Mariana and Conselheiro Lafaiete.The campus of the Federal University of São João del-Rei (UFSJ) and a number of other educational institutions are present in the city.[citation needed] The city has many famous religious festivals through the year, most of them preserving the way it was celebrated by the time of the foundation, with baroque music and special celebrations that attracts tourists from all over the world, particularly during Holy Week, when the town receives the greatest influx of visitors.The city is home to Athletic Club (1909), an association football team that plays in the First Division of Campeonato Mineiro, along with Cruzeiro, Atlético and América.