Bicas

Bicas is a Brazilian city in the state of Minas Gerais. As of 2004 its population is estimated to be 13.590 inhabitants.

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Satellite photo, 1993-06-24, showing buildings and roads (light grey)

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Aerial view of Bicas, in 1995, towards west, showing the city centre and Cruzeiro hill (in the middle), the region of the farming exposition (on the right side) and the highlands (on the left side). Bicas, like many other cities in Zona da Mata region of Minas Gerais state, is surrounded by the typical local geographical relief known as "sea of hills".]

Initially a breakpoint for salesmen in the XVIII century, Bicas obtained its independence from the city of Guarará in 1923. It was an attraction point for Italian immigrants and also other nationalities.

Until the 1970s, Bicas had a full-working train station and an active RFFSA (the extinct state railroad company) branch for repairing wagons. Unfortunately, all this structure was dismantled and today the train station exists only as a historic site. Currently, Bicas has an economy based on commerce, agriculture and farming.

Annual Farming Expositions, with bull-riding and rodeos, cattle commerce and local products - typically in the last week of July of every year - are a tradition of several cities in Zona da Mata, and the Farming Exposition of Bicas is one of the most famous, attracting thousands of tourists from several parts of the country.