//
Shared by the municipalities of Ouro Preto and Mariana is a park which contains very diverse flora and fauna with many hiking opportunities. The centerpiece of the park, Itacolomi Peak, is a pair of rocks, one huge and one much smaller, which can be seen from hilltops around town. Itacolomi means "the Rock and the Boy" in Tupi. For experienced hikers, it is possible to take a difficult 12-km trek through the park to visit the village of Lavras Novas and its nearby waterfalls. Visitors to the park must be accompanied by a guide, which can be arranged in advance by telephone.
© OpenStreetMap contributors
The oldest church in the city was designed by one of Aleijadinho's mentors and completed in 1731 to replace the original main church. Despite the rather stark outward appearance, the interior glistens with almost 1000 pounds (450 kg) of gold and almost 900 pounds (400 kg) of silver. The basement of the church holds the Museum of Sacred Art.
Museum of Sacred Art
This unique rococo-style church, built in 1776, is one of Aleijadinho's greatest works.
This charming museum has a large collection of over 300 elaborately decorated oratories, small portable prayer altars made for home or travel use.
This rococo-style church, built in 1766, holds the last works of Aleijadinho as well as the above-mentioned Oratory Museum.
This museum is dedicated to the memory of the Inconfidência Mineira, an unsuccessful 1789 revolt against Portuguese rule which was inspired by the American Revolution. The building, one of the best extant specimens of colonial baroque architecture, houses the remains of some of the revolutionaries, a library, archives, and works by artists of the period, including works by Aleijadinho and Manuel da Costa Ataíde.