Discover Ouro Preto鈥檚 Golden History, Ouro Preto, Brazil
Nestled in the green, rolling hills of central Brazil, the charming streets of Ouro Preto match the beauty of their surroundings. From a hill above town we saw the red terracotta rooftops of this 18th century gold rush city rise and fall as they follow the undulating landscape. Ouro Preto鈥檚 golden history has left us with a wonderful historic centre that is a delight to explore.
Ouro Preto is the quintessential colonial town. Cobblestone streets are adorned with one and two-story whitewashed homes with colourful wooden doors and window frames. Elaborate fountains on street corners take these streets to the next level of cuteness. The streets climb up and down the small hills as they meander their way though the mountain town. From the top of each hill you get a glimpse of the next street and are enticed to continue your walk.
When gold was found in the Serra do Espinha莽o mountains around Ouro Preto the race was on. Prospectors rushed to the area to search for this valuable mineral. Miners initially established a tent city, but as the amount of gold mines grew so did the amount of people moving in. By the early 1700s this hillside spot became a village and was called Vila Richa (Rich Village). It had been nicknamed Ouro Preto (Black Gold) by locals because of a layer of iron oxide which gave the gold a dark appearance. When the village grew to become a city, its name officially became Ouro Preto and it became one of the wealthiest cities in Brazil. It was even capital city of the state of Minas Gerais for a while. At its peak Ouro Preto had close to 110,00 residents. Today that number has dwindled to less than 75,000. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).
Ouro Preto is the quintessential colonial town. Cobblestone streets are adorned with one and two-story whitewashed homes with colourful wooden doors and window frames. Elaborate fountains on street corners take these streets to the next level of cuteness. The streets climb up and down the small hills as they meander their way though the mountain town. From the top of each hill you get a glimpse of the next street and are enticed to continue your walk.
When gold was found in the Serra do Espinha莽o mountains around Ouro Preto the race was on. Prospectors rushed to the area to search for this valuable mineral. Miners initially established a tent city, but as the amount of gold mines grew so did the amount of people moving in. By the early 1700s this hillside spot became a village and was called Vila Richa (Rich Village). It had been nicknamed Ouro Preto (Black Gold) by locals because of a layer of iron oxide which gave the gold a dark appearance. When the village grew to become a city, its name officially became Ouro Preto and it became one of the wealthiest cities in Brazil. It was even capital city of the state of Minas Gerais for a while. At its peak Ouro Preto had close to 110,00 residents. Today that number has dwindled to less than 75,000. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).
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Guide Name: Discover Ouro Preto鈥檚 Golden History
Guide Location: Brazil » Ouro Preto
Guide Type: Self-guided Walking Tour (Insider Tips)
Author: Maggie Kayes
Read it on Author's Website:
Sight(s) Featured in This Guide:
Guide Location: Brazil » Ouro Preto
Guide Type: Self-guided Walking Tour (Insider Tips)
Author: Maggie Kayes
Read it on Author's Website:
Sight(s) Featured in This Guide:
- Historical Centre
- the Museum of Inconfid锚ncia
- Pra莽a Tiradentes
- Igreja de Nossa Senhora das Merc锚s e da Miseric贸rdia
- Paroquia de Nossa Sehora do Conceicao
- Igreja Matriz de Santa Efig锚nia
- Church of Our Lady of the Rosary
- Igreja de Nossa Senhora do Carmo
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