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Aside from the place itself, one thing that a traveller is curious of is the history of the site he or she’s about to visit. Historical background played one of the many key roles on as to how a specific place progressed into what it is at the current moment.
Stories and folklore vary from one site to another and it is with care that the succeeding inhabitants take care of these tales as much as they can. Some locals have different versions of where the name of their place originated, or who coined the current branding of their city.
The very history of a specific patch of land and water is highly regarded as a valuable piece of information that travellers gather before leaving. And when you mention the name Ouro Preto, you will raise your eyebrow as it sounded weird and familiar at the same time. The city’s name is a direct Portuguese translation of the words, black gold. Interesting eh? Now let’s dig deeper.
LOCATION
In the proximity of the Itacolomi Mountains, the City of Ouro Preto is situated on the flank of the mountains of the same name, along the Rio do Funil valley. It is at the heart of the rich mining area of Minas Gerais.
The city is ideally located and connected to other notable cities in Brazil which are Belo Horizonte at about 100 kilometers away, Rio de Janeiro at 475 kilometers, Sao Paolo at 675 kilometers and Brasilia which is a long stretch of 840 kilometers.
North of Ouro Preto lies Itabirito and Santa Barbara, south are Ouro Branco, Catas Atlas de Noruega, Piranga and Itaverava, east of this historic city is Mariana while Belo Vale and Congonhas lies at West.
CLIMATE
In Ouro Preto, the climate is warm and temperate. In winter, there is much more rainfall in Ouro Preto than in summer. This location is classified as Csb by Köppen and Geiger. The temperature here averages 18.3 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1552 mm.
Ouro Preto has had a humid subtropical climate which means warm, humid summers and mild and dry winters.
TRANSPORTATION
The nearest convenient airports are those of Belo Horizonte, especially that of Confins. From there, you must get to Ouro Preto by car or bus.
Buses arrive at the rodoviária on the northwestern edge of town. It is an easy downhill walk into the historic center. From a big city like Belo Horizonte, you will pass by Passaro Verde trail, Sao Paolo and Rio de Janeiro would take the Util route with 2 departures daily and main city Brasilia would be taking Sae Geraldo with daily departure of 12 hours.
The town’s small size and steep hills make walking the most convenient way of getting around the city center. Bring some good shoes and be prepared to huff and puff a bit, as the streets are cobbled and you will spend the day walking up and down steep hills. Travellers with impaired mobility may have a hard time getting around.
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City buses run to neighborhoods outside of the city center, as well as to neighboring towns like Mariana.
What to See
Museu do Aleijadinho
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An homage to the life of Brazil’s greatest Baroque artist, this museum behind Igreja NS da Conceição displays works by Aleijadinho and other 18th-century masters, including intricate crucifixes, elaborate oratories (niches containing saints’ images to ward off evil spirits) and a vast collection of religious figurines.
Museu do Oratorio
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This museum features a fabulous collection of hand-carved oratórios – miniature home altars and portable devotional shrines dating back to the 17th century.
It’s housed in the Casa do Noviciado, a triple-level colonial building where Aleijadinho is said to have lived while working on the adjacent Igreja NS do Carmo.
Astronomical Observatory
The Museu de Ciência e Técnica da Escola de Minas, in the old governor’s palace north of Praça Tiradentes, features dazzling gemstones from around the world.
There’s also an astronomical observatory.
Capela do Padre Faria
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Built between 1701 and 1704 and named after one of the original bandeirantes (roaming adventurers who spent the 17th and 18th centuries exploring Brazil’s interior), Ouro Preto’s oldest chapel sits at the far eastern edge of town, behind a triple-branched papal cross (1756) representing the pope’s temporal, spiritual and material powers.
Because of poor documentation, the artists here are anonymous.
Parque do Vale dos Contos
Built on the site of Ouro Preto’s 18th-century botanical garden, this lovely, verdant Public Park snakes downhill along a creek from the bus station to the Pilar church, passing en route under the bridge adjacent to Casa dos Contos.
It’s a tranquil spot with pretty views, great for a break from the crowds and the cobblestones.
Mina do Chico-Rei
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Near Matriz NS da Conceição de Antônio Dias is the abandoned mine of Chico-Rei.
There’s little to see as you stoop through the low passageways, but it’s the perfect place to meditate on the fascinating story of this famous king-turned-slave-turned-king-again.
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