Ouro Preto

Ouro Preto history has bestowed upon the city hundreds of tourist attractions such as museums, water fountains, parks and the most beautiful churches in Minas. Matriz de N. Senhora do Pilar church, an extremely rich representation of the Baroque style, contains about 400 kg of gold and 400 kg of silver. Annexed to it, in the sacristy, we find the Pilar Museum of Sacred Art, which displays silverware, furniture, liturgical vestments and religious images from the 18th century. There are other beautiful 18th century churches spread out throughout the hilly town. Among them we find: Nossa Senhora do Carmo, Nossa Senhora do Rosário and São Francisco de Assis, all of them adorned in gold and built in the rich Baroque style.

Inconfidência Museum, which was built in 1785, is a great portrait of the history of a local uprising and displays pieces of the scaffold where the hero named Tiradentes was hanged, and furniture and other historic articles from that age. Aleijadinho Museum, which bears the name of one of the most famous baroque artists, display a vast collection of sacred art that takes visitors back to the time the beautiful churches were built.

The water fountains that can be found all over town have become a landmark after the various springs in Ouro Preto turned them into true works of art. Rio das Velhas, one of the most important rivers in Minas Gerais, also originates by the town.

Finally, going to Ouro Preto was a great trip because there we learned about several histories about the city and about the gold that was found there. Those who visit the town carry away a very real impression of having been transported back to the times of colonial Brazil, to its unique architecture and fascinating stories.

Key Words: churches, Ouro Preto, Baroque style, 18^th century, Tiradentes, Inconfidencia Museum, Aleijadinho Museum, colonial Brazil.