the towns along the estrada real were opulent in the days of gold and diamonds, but by the end of the 18th century, the minerals became more scarce and the economy went into decline. recent efforts by governmental and non-governmental organizations are turning the estrada real into a route that leads tourists through the cradle of brazilian culture. the road is still mostly unpaved, and the towns and villages along the way appear much the way they did in the 19th century. magnificent churches still stand in towns that have been economically stagnant for over a century. the tourism initiative is educating people to retain their traditional ways and preserve the baroque architecture of their old churches and government buildings.