The Praça Tiradentes, where the head of the martyred independence fighter of the same name was put on display, is an integral part of any visit to the city of Ouro Preto. Lining the large cobbled square are the former Governors Palace (Museu de Ciênc..

If you only see one church in Ouro Preto, make it the Igreja São Francisco de Assis, the masterpiece of Antônio Francisco Lisboa (Aleijadinho). Two round bell towers stand atop the church, lending a sense of harmony to the whole which stands as testa..

You would never guess from the relatively sober façade of the Igreja de N. S. do Pilar (18C) what treasures lie within its walls. Chandeliers and balconies covered in gold (several hundreds of kilogrammes of precious metal are said to have been neede..

Weapons, gold ingot moulds, chains and irons used for slaves, furniture... The Museu da Inconfidência, the former town hall and prison, is dedicated to the history of the city, and in particular to the gold rush period and the independence movement o..

The Igreja N. S. do Carmo (18C) stands on a promontory which affords a view over the area surrounding Ouro Preto. The church was designed by Manuel Francisco Lisboa, father of Aleijadinho, who designed the lateral chapels of São José and of N. S. da ..

The Museu do Oratório has an extraordinary collection (17C-20C) of oratories, cult objects that have been widespread in Brazil since colonial times. Whether popular or aristocratic, Indian, Afro-Brazilian or ecclesiastical, in a so-called "erudi..

The magnificent Teatro Municipal, opened in 1770, is the oldest working theatre in Latin America. When the building was remodelled (19C) its original structure was preserved.

Not far from the Praça Tiradentes, this white and ochre-coloured church stands tall and proud. The work of the father of Aleijadinho – both men are buried here – the elegance of the church is indisputable. Have a quick look at the Museu do Aleijadinh..

The history of this church is an unusual one. According to which version you believe, construction of the church was funded either by Chico Rei – a Congolese prince sold as a slave in Brazil who then bought back his freedom – or by the gold that had ..

Looking at the outside of this modest chapel in the heart of the working-class district, you wouldn't guess what lies within. The exuberant splendour of the wooden high altar is the first surprise. On the ceiling is one of the oldest frescoes in Mina..

The Museu de Ciência e Técnica, a former mining school, was founded by Frenchman Claude-Henri Gorceix (1876). It has an exceptional collection of minerals (most notably a very rare imperial topaz) excavated from the subsoils of Minas Gerais and of th..

The fine Casa dos Contos was built between 1782 and 1784 by the fantastically wealthy João Rodrigues de Macedo, future member of the Minas conspiracy movement. Transformed into a prison for the plotters, it then came to house the crown jewels, before..