Ouro Preto, a small city that is 98 km from Belo Horizonte, capital of the state of Minas Gerais, was the headquarters of the Inconfidência Mineira (revolution movement) in the colonial period against the high taxes charged by the Portuguese Royalty.

It has the biggest Baroque collection in the world, with a rich collection of works by the sculptor Antonio Francisco Lisboa, also known as Aleijadinho, and the painter Manuel da Costa Athayde, two of the greatest exponents of Brazilian colonial art and architecture.

The city was founded in 1711 under the name of Vila Rica (Rich Village). It was the capital of Minas Gerais between 1720 and 1897. In 1933, it was recognized as a National Heritage and in 1980, it was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

Ouro Preto means "dark gold", named after the mineral discoveries in the region at the end of the 17th century. There, they found the purest carat gold, covered by a thin layer of iron oxide, which gave it a dark color.

Distinct characteristics can be seen in Ouro Preto: the stone buildings, the steep streets, with original features of the eighteenth century period, the colonial houses, the fountains and terraced houses to avoid air currents. Public buildings and Baroque heritage churches provide a genuine trip to Colonial Brazil.

There are over 30 attractions, including museums, churches and historical buildings. Among the highlights, the Museu da Inconfidência (Revolution/Conspiracy Museum), the Oratory Museum, the Mother of Our Lady of the Pillar, Our Mother Lady of the Immaculate Conception, St. Francis of Assisi churches and the Casa dos Contos (House of Contos). The city also has good gastronomic options, with regional and international cuisines.

Information

www.ouropreto.org.br
www.ouropreto.com.br
www.ouropreto.mg.gov.br

Economic, Financial and Political Data

Brazil
Capital: Brasília
Population: 193,7 million (2009)
Area: 8.514.215,3 km2
Demographic Density: 22,7 inhab./km²
Currency: Real
GNP: R$ 3,14 trillion (2009)
GNP per capita: R$ 16.414 (2009)
Real GNP growth: 5,1% (2007/2008)
Exports: US$ 153 billion (2009)
Imports: US$ 127,6 billion (2009)
Human Development Index: 0,813 (2007)
Source: IBGE (Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística), UNDP (United Nations Development Program) and the Ministry of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade.

Minas Gerais
Capital: Belo Horizonte
Number of Municipalities: 853
Population: 20 million
Area: 586.528,29 km2
Demographic Density: 34,1 inhab./km²
GNP: R$ 241 billion (2007)
GNP per capita: R$ 12.519 (2007)
Exports: US$ 19,5 billion (2009)
Imports: US$ 7,35 billion (2009)
Human Development Index: 0,800
Source: IBGE (Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística), UNDP (United Nations Development Program) and the Ministry of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade.

Ouro Preto
Area: 1.245 km2
Population: 69.495 (2009 – Estimate)
GNP: R$ 1,87 billion (2007)
GNP per capita: R$ 27.940 (2007)
Exports: US$ 2,3 billion (2009)
Imports: US$ 10,4 million (2009)
Human Development Index - Municipal: 0,787
Source: IBGE (Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística), UNDP (United Nations Development Program) and Ministry of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade.