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> Discovering Ouro Preto

In Southeastern Brazil, in the mountains of the Minas Gerais Province, the discovery of gold mines in late XVIIth Century resulted in the foundation of a lot of small towns and villages. From those, the Vila Rica de Ouro Preto (Ouro Preto's former name) quickly became an important economic, political, artistic and cultural center. Until the second half of the XVIIIth Century the gold rush made Ouro Preto's glorious time.

Rich mansions, monuments and churches were build on the hills on top of which the city is situated. On the Morro São João (St John's Hill) was built Vila Rica's first little chapel.

At that time, Vila Rica de Ouro Preto was the first mining center of the Americas.

> Brazil's Colonial Center

During the XVIIIth Century Ouro Preto (Black Gold), former Vila Rica, was at the heart of the rich Colonial Brazil mining region. For those who are curious enough, the actual name of Ouro Preto comes from the gold found in hematite material (See picture on the left)

> Richness and Uprising

The gold rush at that region draw adventurers and people seeking easy richness. The King of Portugal set on huge tributes on gold extraction activities in the colony. These impositions drove to local resistence against colonial rule. The insurgents leaAder, Joaquim José da Silva Xavier, known as Tiradentes, after beeing hung, had his head put on top of a mast at Vila Rica de Ouro Preto main place (actual Tiradentes Place).

Ouro Preto's richness led to the building of plenty of churches and mansions in the city. Rich and noblemen asked artits and craftsman to garnish these with statuaries, paintings and other art works.

Brazil Baroque

For art lovers, Ouro Preto is a have to visit to do baroque art pieces, churches, museums and colonial architecture are the city major attractions.

Also, architecture and mining students have a lot of good reasons to visit Ouro Preto too.

Hotels and Restaurants

Visitors find excellent hotels, besides a vastness of options of comfortable, economic hotels and plenty of pousadas. See our suggestions (very soon)

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