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Vila Rica do Ouro Prêto, which means Black Gold, is a town that was the centre of Brazil's 17th century gold rush. The name translates as "Rich Village of Black Gold", though today it is simply called Ouro Prêto. It is located in the state of Minas Gerais, in the Serra do Espinhaço mountains. After the gold had been mined, the town went into decline, but its beautiful churches, bridges and fountains, built during its "golden age", remains today as a legacy of the gilded past. They are also an immortalized creative testimony of the talent of the Baroque sculptor Aleijadinho.
Ouro Prêto was inscribed as a World Heritage Site during the 4th session of the World Heritage Committee when it met in Paris on 1-5 September, 1980.
Photos of Historic Town of Ouro Prêto
Carmo Church, Ouro Prêto
Author: Sarah and Iain (Creative Commons Attribution 2.0)
Igreja de São Francisco de Assis, Ouro Prêto
Author: Sarah and Iain (Creative Commons Attribution 2.0)
Rosario Pretos, Ouro Prêto
Author: Espartaco Madureira Coelho (public domain)
About Ouro Prêto
The town of Ouro Prêto was founded towards the end of the 17th century. As it became the centre for gold mining, it was a prosperous town, and this is reflected in its architecture. Many of the historic buildings survive till today, thanks to an economic decline that helped to preserve the old buildings from "urban renewals". The architecture in Ouro Prêto is described as Barroco Mineiro, a baroque revivial style that is reflected in the work of sculptors such as Aleijadinho, who created many of the sculptures in town.Ouro Prêto was where the unsuccessful fight for independence from Portugal was hatched. Its leader, Tierdentes, was hanged to prevent future attempts. The town was the capital of the state of Minas Gerais from 1822 until 1897, when the need for administrative space required a new capital city. Belo Horizonte, a new planned city, took over as capital of Minas Gerais in 1897.
World Heritage Site Inscription Details
Location: S 20 23 20 W 43 30 20 in the State of Minas GeraisInscription Year: 1980
Type of Site: Cultural
Inscription Criteria: I, III
Location Map
View Ouro Prêto in a larger map
Visiting Historic Town of Ouro Prêto
Your base for visiting this World Heritage Site is the city of Belo Horizonte. You may have to enter Brazil via Rio de Janeiro or São Paulo, and transit to Belo Horizonte. From there, you can make the arrangement, either on your own or through a travel agency, to go to Ouro Prêto. As part of the preparations, here are hotels in the different cities with online booking facilities.How to get there
From Belo Horizonte, you can take a bus to Ouro Preto. There are many departures per day.Getting around
Walk. The old town is small enough to be explored on foot.Book Hotel Rooms in Brazil and Worldwide
Click here also for a full list of hotels in Brazil or hotels worldwide. If you prefer budget accommodation in hostels, guesthouses or inns, check out hostels worldwide for budget accommodation providers with online booking.Return to Brazil's World Heritage Sites
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