Ouro Preto travel tips and stories. Vacations ideas, cruises, spa and resorts

Founded at the end of the 17th century, Ouro Preto means “black gold” in Portuguese. It was the focal point of the gold rush and Brazil’s golden age in the 18th century.  The city designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO because of its outstanding Baroque architecture. There are many extremely ornate Baroque churches, religious architecture and sculpture reached its zenith during the mid 1700′s. Bridges and fountains remain as a testimony to its past prosperity and the exceptional talent of the Baroque sculptor Aleijadinho.

Ouro Preto is a major tourist destination in Brazil, for its well-preserved colonial appearance with old buildings and cobblestone streets. Ouro Preto today lives largely in the past. In 1933 it was declared a national monument and the surrounding region a national park, so that the city’s elaborate public buildings, churches, and houses might be preserved or restored.