Travel Destinations

Brazil Travel / Minas Gerais - Located 519 km north of Rio de Janeiro, Ouro Preto (Black Gold) was founded at the end of the 17th century and the main focal point of all the period called "the golden age of Brazil". Originally called Vila Rica, it was a simple mountain village receiving Bandeirantes on their search for African slaves coming from the Atlantic coast.

Close to Vila Rica they found a strange black stone and sent pieces of it to Portugal. It returned the confirmation that they found gold. The black color was originated by iron oxide in the soil. From there on, thousand of soldiers of fortune came to Ouro Preto eager to enrich themselves by exploiting the gold deposits.

They were followed by a great number of artists who came to settle and achieve works of an outstanding quality such as the São Francisco of Assis church built by the exceptional talented Baroque sculptor Aleijadinho. Ouro Preto was designated a World Heritage site by UNESCO in 1980 because of its churches, its simple but original arquitecture, its bridges, its fountains and its settings.

See also: Tour Paraty - Ouro Preto