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Municipality in Minas Gerais, Brazil
Photo: Adam Jones Adam63, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Ouro Preto, in Central Minas Gerais, is one of Brazil's best-preserved colonial towns and a UNESCO world heritage site. Among other historical and colonial cities of Minas Gerais (Tiradentes, São João del Rei, Mariana and Diamantina), Ouro Preto is one of the most popular travel destinations in Brazil.
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Parque Estadual do Itacolomi
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.
The definitive center of the town. On the north side of the square is the Escolas de Minas (School of Mines), with a museum of mineralogy. On the south side is the Museu da Inconfidência.
Opera House
The oldest functioning theater in South America opened in 1770 and still has occasional evening concerts.
Tax Collection House
Once a home of the regional tax collector, this colonial baroque structure served as a jail for revolutionaries in the late 18th century.
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.
Museu de Ciência e Técnica da Escola de Minas
This mineralogy museum has a quite varied collection of minerals from quartz to diamond to uranium, including many rare specimens. Children have free admission.
Guignard House
This museum has a collection of paintings by Alberto da Veiga Guignard, an influential painter who lived his last years in the town.
Museum of Sacred Art
This charming museum has a large collection of over 300 elaborately decorated oratories, small portable prayer altars made for home or travel use.
Many important works by Aleijadinho are elsewhere in the city, but this small museum has a few gems, including a strikingly life-like bust of Saint Francis of Paola.
Built in 1710, this is one of the oldest buildings in the region.
The beautiful entranceway was made by Aleijadinho, and many paintings inside are attributed to Manoel da Costa Ataíde.
This rococo-style church, built in 1766, holds the last works of Aleijadinho as well as the above-mentioned Oratory Museum.
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.
Built in 1785 with slave labor. Slaves were forbidden to worship at any other church. The church has a unique shape, with a contour formed by three convergent ovals.
This hilltop church, dedicated to an Ethiopian saint, was very popular with slaves and their descendants. It was supposedly built by Chico Rei and decorated with gold from the mine which bears his name. (See below)
This unique rococo-style church, built in 1776, is one of Aleijadinho's greatest works.
Completed in the 1898, this church took a whopping 94 years to complete. Inside are Aleijadinho's sculpture of the saint after which it is named, as well as a life-size sculpture of the Last Supper.
This church, completed in 1811, was partially designed by Aleijadinho. It is being renovated.
This 1727 church is famous for its 8 lavishly decorated altars. The cemetery here has the grave of Aleijadinho, and the sacristy houses a museum dedicated to him.
Chico Rei Mine, also known as Encardideira
One of the largest and most-visited gold mines in the area, this mine was named for the legendary Chico Rei (see the infobox). There are guided tours.
An interesting mine in which you can see petrified trees in the tunnel walls.
Mine of the Crossing
This is said to be the world´s largest mine open to the public. In order to reach the mining galleries a small trolley is used and it is held by a steel cable. You descend for 315 m and the total depth reaches 120 m. The visit to the mine is accompanied by a guide (who normally does not speak English, so make sure you have someone who can translate for you). Apart from the grandiosity of the excavation, there is also a beautiful underground lake. If you plan to take pictures, you will need a tripod and a lower shutter speed. Otherwise your pictures will be either blurred or totally blacked out. Tours can be arranged through.
Passagem de Mariana, (on the road to Mariana).
Old Mine
Opened in 1704, this is oldest mine in town. This mine was dug by slaves and shows the contrast between hand dug mines and industrially dug mines (such as Mina da Passagem). Look for the veins of mica and ocher visible in the tunnel walls. The walking space is very limited and in certain locations can be claustrophobic for those who do not enjoy enclosed spaces.
Simple and cozy atmosphere. Delicious homemade food, well presented. Excellent feijoada.
Great atmosphere, cozy, with live music, but very ambient music where you can talk to each other. You go down a stepladder and that's it you're in a restaurant which reminds you of those medieval places. Delicious portions.
Simple and delicious. Divine seasoning. The service is undoubtedly great, the staff are very nice people. Very family friendly environment.
Great pizza and nice place. Pizza is very well made, thin crust and toppings just right. Wood oven, cooks from Minas Gerais. Simple and cozy.
An open buffet with a variety of food options from Minas Gerais. Good option for tourists who want to know all the dishes. Ambience is enjoyable and staff friendly.
Best pizza and esfiha in town. Also the sandwiches are great.
Wide variety of pastries, snacks and other foods. Great spaghetti. The service is great.
Super cozy place. The pizza is very tasty. Also the calzone is very good.
The best Marmitex in town. Great seasoning. Recommendation for the dish Tropeiro.
Sandwiches and à la carte dishes. Occasional live music.
Specializing in Minas Gerais state's regional cuisine, such as tutu a mineira , frango com quiabo or ora pro nóbis. Major credit and debit cards accepted.
Serving varied Brazilian fare as well as (Brazilian-style) pizza.
Pizza and a variety of pastas, seafood, salads, and desserts served in an 18th-century house. Well-stocked wine cellar.
Pizzaria Satélite
One of the most popular bars in Ouro Preto. Friendly staff and a variety of reasonably priced food.
Scotch bar and restaurant in a basement of a building near Igreja do Rosário. Excellent mineira food in a very welcoming environment.
Bar do Vitório
Bar with a great selection of snacks like country sausage, chorizo, duck with rice, pork with rice, pork rind, roast beef, canjiquinha and gallopé.
About 150 m from the main square, with an amazing view from the city, the hostel is very clean and comfortable, with a nice atmosphere and social spaces.
About 150 m from the bus station. Nice city view. The hostel has its own kitchen where you can cook whenever you like. It also has a communal barbecue area to enjoy yourself and get together with others.
The hostel is small, clean, cozy and also good if you want to rest (down a side street away from main plaza).
Bed & breakfast with television, free internet, a pool, and free parking.
Satellite TV, minibar, security safe, laundry service. Parking available. Accepts major credit cards.
Mini-bar, TV, laundry service, parking, and free breakfast. Discounts are available in the low season.
Restored historic manor with an internal patio decorated in the style of the 1700s. TV, mini-bar. Free internet and breakfast.
Suites have TV, telephone, mini-bar, and most have decent views of the city. Free breakfast. Parking available. Major credit cards accepted.
Simple accommodations in a quiet setting with a nice little garden.
4-star hotel with rooms decorated in 18th-century style-- even the staff dress the part. Telephone, TV with English channels, minibar, and broadband internet. Breakfast buffet and shuttle service to the historic center are provided free of charge. Major credit cards accepted.
Designed by Oscar Niemeyer in the early 1940s, this hotel has suites and apartments with phone, TV, minibar, and air conditioning. Each room has a balcony with a decent view. Swimming pool and restaurant on premises. Parking available. Major credit cards are accepted.
This 18th-century manor now rents suites furnished with replicas of furniture from the period. TV, phone, and on-site restaurant.
These two affiliated stores on the central square have a good selection of high-quality locally-produced jewelry made of gold, silver, and precious and semi-precious stones.
On the way down the hill east of Praca Tiradentes is an open-air market with fascinating local creations in soapstone and wood. A great place to find a souvenir.
By plane
The nearest convenient airports are those of Belo Horizonte, especially that of Confins. From there, you must get to Ouro Preto by car or bus.
By car
Ouro Preto sits on BR-356 about 120 km southeast of Belo Horizonte and about 18 km west of Mariana.
By bus
Buses arrive at the rodoviária on the northwestern edge of town. It is an easy downhill walk into the historic center.
By bus
City buses run to neighborhoods outside of the city center, as well as to neighboring towns like Mariana. Use the app Moovit provides directions.
By taxi
Simply use the app OP Expert. You may need a CPF from a CPF online generator.
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Belo Horizonte · International · CNF
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