Founded at the end of the 17th century, Ouro Preto (Black Gold) was the focal point of the gold rush and Brazil's golden age in the 18th century. Capital of the province under the Empire, Ouro Preto also became capital of the state of Minas Gerais with the advent of the Republic (1889). With the exhaustion of the gold mines in the 19th century and the construction of the new capital of the state, Belo Horizonte (1897), the city's influence declined. In this way it was possible to preserve Ouro Preto as a historic city. In 1980, it became the first Brazilian cultural site to be included on the list of World Heritage Sites by Unesco. Ouro Preto constitutes one of the most homogenous and complete sites of baroque art in the world, its churches, bridges and fountains remain as a testimony to its past prosperity and the exceptional talent of the brazilian Baroque sculptor Aleijadinho.


http://www.ufop.br/OuroPreto/ourop.jpg

http://www.etravelphotos.com/brazil/photos/2003la-1017-027d-w.jpg

http://www.ouropreto.com.br/cartoes/imagens/casarioDaPracaTiradentes.jpg http://www.ouropreto.com.br/cartoes/imagens/antonio-Dias.jpg

http://www.ouropreto.com.br/cartoes/imagens/casa-dos-Contos.jpghttp://www.ouropreto.com.br/cartoes/imagens/Ig.-N.-Senhora-da-Conceicao.jpg

http://www.idasbrasil.com.br/oficialouropreto/imagem/AltarIgrNSNazareCachCampo.jpg http://www.ouropretotour.com/ouropreto_galeria/foto_14g.jpg http://www.ouropretotour.com/ouropreto_galeria/foto_05g.jpg

http://www.ouropretotour.com/ouropreto_galeria/foto_06g.jpg http://www.ouropretotour.com/ouropreto_galeria/foto_02g.jpg

http://www.ouropretotour.com/ouropreto_galeria/foto_13g.jpg http://www.ouropretotour.com/ouropreto_galeria/foto_09g.jpg

http://www.ouropretotour.com/ouropreto_galeria/foto_08g.jpg http://www.monolith.com.au/ouro_preto/HEADER.jpg

http://www.cidadeshistoricas.art.br/hac/especiais/images/interior_g.jpg http://www.cidadeshistoricas.art.br/hac/especiais/images/teto_g.jpg

http://www.barkah.org/brazil/OuroPreto/ouro2_medium.jpg

http://www.barkah.org/brazil/OuroPreto/ouro1_medium.jpg

http://www.barkah.org/brazil/OuroPreto/partial_medium.jpg

http://www.barkah.org/brazil/OuroPreto/ouro3_medium.jpg

http://www.barkah.org/brazil/OuroPreto/museum1_medium.jpg

http://vguimer.org/sitebresil/images/13_Ouropreto/OuroPreto_031.JPG

Ouro Preto looks damn cool, there is also a nice university in the city.

My father has been there and he said just good things about the city. Worth a visit definetly!

Beautiful pics!!!!!!!!:okay:

http://users.trendnet.com.br/mauropr/ouropreto/morro.jpg

Ouro Preto is amazing! I love the mountains from Minas Gerais state,they are just perfect close to the city! :) I wish my state had cities like this.

http://www.descubraminas.com.br/media/upload/fotos/grande/10048.jpg

http://www.descubraminas.com.br/media/upload/fotos/grande/10058.jpg

http://www.descubraminas.com.br/media/upload/fotos/grande/10032.jpg http://www.descubraminas.com.br/media/upload/fotos/grande/10252.jpg

http://www.descubraminas.com.br/media/upload/fotos/grande/10376.jpg http://www.descubraminas.com.br/media/upload/fotos/grande/10380.jpg

http://www.descubraminas.com.br/media/upload/fotos/grande/10575.jpg

http://www.descubraminas.com.br/media/upload/fotos/grande/10425.jpg

http://www.descubraminas.com.br/media/upload/fotos/grande/10530.jpg

http://www.descubraminas.com.br/media/upload/fotos/grande/10028.jpg

http://www.descubraminas.com.br/media/upload/fotos/grande/12378.jpg

http://www.descubraminas.com.br/media/upload/fotos/grande/10576.jpg

http://www.descubraminas.com.br/media/upload/fotos/grande/1090.jpg

http://www.descubraminas.com.br/media/upload/fotos/grande/874.jpg

http://www.descubraminas.com.br/media/upload/fotos/grande/10336.jpg

http://www.descubraminas.com.br/media/upload/fotos/grande/10245.jpg

http://www.descubraminas.com.br/media/upload/fotos/grande/1160.jpg

http://www.descubraminas.com.br/media/upload/fotos/grande/13049.jpg

http://www.descubraminas.com.br/media/upload/fotos/grande/10022.jpg

Woowww!! Great Pics!!! How Beautiful!!

I still didn´t visite that... :(:(

Other cities of the state of Minas Gerais

Mariana
http://www.descubraminas.com.br/media/upload/fotos/grande/10364.jpg

http://www.descubraminas.com.br/media/upload/fotos/grande/10433.jpg

http://www.descubraminas.com.br/media/upload/fotos/grande/8282.jpg

Diamantina
http://www.descubraminas.com.br/media/upload/fotos/grande/10031.jpg

http://www.descubraminas.com.br/media/upload/fotos/grande/9487.jpg

http://www.descubraminas.com.br/media/upload/fotos/grande/8781.jpg

São João del Rei
http://www.descubraminas.com.br/media/upload/fotos/grande/10435.jpg

http://www.descubraminas.com.br/media/upload/fotos/grande/10215.jpg

http://www.descubraminas.com.br/media/upload/fotos/grande/10567.jpg

Tiradentes
http://www.descubraminas.com.br/media/upload/fotos/grande/10356.jpg

http://www.descubraminas.com.br/media/upload/fotos/grande/10472.jpg

http://www.descubraminas.com.br/media/upload/fotos/grande/10422.jpg

Congonhas
http://www.descubraminas.com.br/media/upload/fotos/grande/10503.jpg

http://www.descubraminas.com.br/media/upload/fotos/grande/10428.jpg

http://www.descubraminas.com.br/media/upload/fotos/grande/12068.jpg

Catas Altas
http://www.descubraminas.com.br/media/upload/fotos/grande/10154.jpg

http://www.descubraminas.com.br/media/upload/fotos/grande/10122.jpg

Serro
http://www.descubraminas.com.br/media/upload/fotos/grande/10146.jpg

http://www.descubraminas.com.br/media/upload/fotos/grande/10139.jpg

Sabará
http://www.descubraminas.com.br/media/upload/fotos/grande/94.jpg

http://www.descubraminas.com.br/media/upload/fotos/grande/12606.jpg

Congonhas
http://www.idasbrasil.com.br/idasbrasil/imagem/papelparede/PapelParedeCongonhas800.jpg

Ouro Preto
http://www.idasbrasil.com.br/idasbrasil/imagem/papelparede/PapelParedeOuroPreto800.jpg

Ouro Preto
http://www.embratur.gov.br/0-catalogo-imagens/caravana/0504real_ourop06_gd.jpg

http://www.embratur.gov.br/0-catalogo-imagens/caravana/0504real_ourop05_gd.jpg

http://www.embratur.gov.br/0-catalogo-imagens/caravana/0504real_ourop16_gd.jpg

Mariana
http://www.embratur.gov.br/0-catalogo-imagens/caravana/0504real_mar13_gd.jpg

http://www.embratur.gov.br/0-catalogo-imagens/caravana/0504real_mar10_gd.jpg

São João Del Rei
http://www.embratur.gov.br/0-catalogo-imagens/caravana/0504real_delrei04_gd.jpg

hmm, charming :)

This thread is Wonderful!!!!!!!!! Sad that few people come to see it..

This thread is Wonderful!!!!!!!!! Sad that few people come to see it..

it's a latin american city. If the thread was about "Des Moines skyline" we would have at least 150 posts here, comparing the great architecture from Des Moines, Menphis and Topeka. ;)

beautiful city, Brazil is always a surprise.

it's a latin american city. If the thread was about "Des Moines skyline" we would have at least 150 posts here, comparing the great architecture from Des Moines, Menphis and Topeka. ;)

hehehe.. ;)

it's a latin american city. If the thread was about "Des Moines skyline" we would have at least 150 posts here, comparing the great architecture from Des Moines, Menphis and Topeka. ;)

I agree completely with you. Only the portuguese come see us and give us some attention. Of course, there are some exceptions. Some other europeans see threads like this too. But the ones from US only visit brazilian threads if it´s about Rio.
I live in Belo Horizonte and it is very close to Ouro Preto and when I go to Ouro Preto the foreign tourists I see there are all europeans. You definetely don´t see any north-american there, since Ouro Preto has history, museums, architecture and things like that and I guess the people from US don´t get very interested in cultural activities.

Anyway, the cities of Minas Gerais are incredible! Vere well-preserved colonial heritage and even the costumes. Minas Gerais is the most catholic state in Brazil and also the most traditional.

Looks very mountainous. Does it ever snow there?

Looks very mountainous. Does it ever snow there?

Not at all. As I know it´s a very hot place...

Holy crap! Imagine having to walk up that hill everyday to get to and from your house!

http://www.descubraminas.com.br/media/upload/fotos/grande/13049.jpg

^^ Women get fine legs... ;) hehehe

Not at all. As I know it´s a very hot place...

:? The average temperature in Ouro Preto is lower than in São Paulo. Unless São Paulo is a "very hot place", what it isn´t, it makes no sense. Because of the mountains, the temperatures in most parts of Minas Gerais are lower than people think. In most internet sites, you´ll find that the average temperature of São Paulo city is 19 to 20ºC, in Ouro Preto 17 to 18ºC, and even in BH: 20 to 21ºC.


"O conjunto serrano de Ouro Preto,com suas significativas altitudes, cria condições para a ocorrência de mínimas diárias bastante baixas.A temperatura média anual é de 17,4 ºC, enquanto a máxima e a mínima chegam a 22,6ºC e 13,1 ºC, respectivamente. A precipitação anual é de 2.018 mm, apresentando uma distribuição bastante irregular, já que grande parte deste montante ocorre nos meses correspondentes ao verão, de outubro a março. O clima ouropretano é classificado como tropical de altitude."

13ºC as the average minimun, including the summer (!) is very low for Brazilian standarts.

beautiful!! :cheers1: :cheers1:I had already seen pictures of some of these cities before!!!

I really admire the fact that the buildings seem so damn well preserved, and everything seems so neat and clean . I'd already been amazed once at the degree of protection Brazilians give to wild nature in the state of Rio. Now I notice you also intend to preserve your architectural heritage. COOL!
:) :) :okay:

Holy crap! Imagine having to walk up that hill everyday to get to and from your house!

http://www.descubraminas.com.br/media/upload/fotos/grande/13049.jpg




The city is pretty old and was built in the hills because that was the tradition in Minas Gerais back then. Don´t criticise things which you don´t know.

Although Ouro Preto is a small town, is has a beautiful scenery and great borroque architecture, very well-preserved. Not something like Topeka.

The city is pretty old and was built in the hills because that was the tradition in Minas Gerais back then. Don´t criticise things which you don´t know.

Although Ouro Preto is a small town, is has a beautiful scenery and great borroque architecture, very well-preserved. Not something like Topeka.

Borini.. na boa, não precisa ser tão estúpido. Ele não falou nada demais, não ofendeu nada e nem ninguém. Aliás ele é até um bom frequentador do forum latino e brasileiro, gosta da gente pelo que sei, e é bem vindo lá tbém! E vc vem dar uma dessas!?!??!?! Não entendi por que vc se ofendeu..

@Borini

Calm down! It was just a joke, Bond was not making any critic!

I was just commenting on how steep the hill was! :weird: :dunno:

dont worry Bond, Borini is quite anti-american and he will take anything an american says as an offense. I wonder what Borini thought you were saying...

Btw, I dont think it was a "tradition" to build cities in mountains in Minas Gerais. People dont build cities in places due to tradition, but due to the locations that are commercially good. The city grew in the mountains because there was GOLD around the Minas Gerais mountains, not because it was tradition.

Holy crap! Imagine having to walk up that hill everyday to get to and from your house!

http://www.descubraminas.com.br/media/upload/fotos/grande/13049.jpg

it makes me wanna faint :runaway:

More Photos - Congonhas:

http://www.idasbrasil.com.br/idasbrasil/cidades/Congonhas/imagem/apresent_r1_c1.jpg
http://www.idasbrasil.com.br/idasbrasil/cidades/Congonhas/imagem/apresent_r2_c1.jpg
http://www.idasbrasil.com.br/idasbrasil/cidades/Congonhas/imagem/apresent_r3_c1.jpg

http://www.viajar.de/media/minas/m_congonhas1.jpg

http://www.zezesampaio.com.br/brasil/osdoze.jpg

Great city! It also got a fine university with hot chicks, UFOP..

I have been to Ouro Preto, and I went because I have always been a big fan of Baroque Architecure. It's really amazing that such a small town has so many baroque churches.
My only complaint was that the churches are not open all the time, at least when I was there. I had to return a number of times in the day to see some of the churches

I have been to Ouro Preto, and I went because I have always been a big fan of Baroque Architecure. It's really amazing that such a small town has so many baroque churches.
My only complaint was that the churches are not open all the time, at least when I was there. I had to return a number of times in the day to see some of the churches

I'm a big fan of Baroque too, but, sadly, I have never had the opportunity to visit Ouro Preto. I've read that the great number of churches is in part due to a rivalry among the many religious brotherhoods that existed back to the XVIII century.

This thread still exists? Great!! (as if it would disappear... ;))

Anyway...

Okay, not Minas, but here some pics of Parati, the ancient harbour for the gold and minerals from Minas:
http://www.insula-moenia.dk/brasilien/pics/parati/parati.jpg
http://www.insula-moenia.dk/brasilien/pics/parati/parati2.jpg
http://www.suapraia.com.br/praias/rj/parati/parati-capa.jpg
http://www.richardbarclay.com/traveldiary/photos/extras/parati_wet.jpg

And back in MG: more from Mariana - beautiful, but I remember having to breath the most polluted air ever in Brazil :( Such a small city and a horrible traffic...

http://www.oxo.li/raphael/brasilien/ferien2002/200211-maria01k.jpg
http://www.darkroompeople.com/drp14/mariana/bigimages/image013.jpg

/\ Nice Pictures of Parati, Kuesel. :okay:

"Estrada Real": The Royal Road

The trail has two axes known as the Old Trail and the New Trail, and together with its variants comprises a trail longer than 1,200 km. The Old Trail begins in the city of Parati (RJ), runs through the state of São Paulo and enters Minas Gerais in the South. The New Trail begins in Rio de Janeiro (Porto Estrela) and joins the Old Trail close to Ouro Branco, and thence to Diamantina.

http://www.pousadadascores.com.br/roteiros/cocais_estrada_real/imagens/estrada_real.JPG

"In 1697 or so, the Crown of Portugal ordered a road built from the port of Praia dos Mineiros, where the Rio Inhomirim met the Atlantic, to Diamantina, where creeks were exposing diamonds to daylight. The Estrada Real, the Royal Road, was to surmount the Serra do Mar that stands steep, dark-green, and misty about Guanabara Bay, then probe north into the region known as Minas Gerais - General Mines. The Royal Road was to connect the cities producing gold and diamonds as nowhere else on earth. Tunnels dug into hillsides were turning up just about every type of gem known to man. São João del Rei, Tiradentes, Congonhas and Vila Rica were already thriving cities. Vila Rica was becoming the largest city in the Americas, and its name would some day change from Rich Village to Black Gold * Ouro Preto. Diamantina, in northern Minas, was rising from the muck of a diamond mine in a gully to become a Portuguese outpost worth the wealth it was sending south to Praia dos Mineiros - Beach of Miners * later to be called Rio de Janeiro. From there the wealth of Brazil sailed to Lisbon."

m a g n i f i c