The Most Beautiful City in Brazil: Ouro Preto

(Things to see and do in Ouro Preto below, and resources for hotels and guidebooks at the bottom of this post.)

Before leaving on our extensive road trip through the historic state of Minas Gerais, I sat at the dining room table with my brother-in-law’s mother, studying the map of our anticipated route. She spoke Portuguese slowly, the pace of an elderly woman eager to share past experiences with a new friend. As her finger traced the many roads that she had driven on her own trip through Minas Gerais, she announced, “There were two places I always wanted to see in my life: Macchu Pichu and Ouro Preto. And I’ve seen both.” Ouro Preto, really?

2 Days in Ouro Preto, Brazil |This Is My Happiness.com

Ouro Preto lived up to the hype, and it should, considering the entire town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Ouro Preto might be the most beautiful town in Brazil, a mix of preserved architecture and precious art in a striking urban landscape of cobblestone hills nestled in the surrounding mountains.

Unlike almost every other place in Brazil that I’ve visited, Ouro Preto strikes that perfect combination of a place where people clearly live (including about 15,000 university students) and a place where tourism thrives. Although I would highly recommend that the town ban cars from its main square for the sake of both residents and tourists, the town is developed for tourism. Ouro Preto is small and organized enough to be seen in two or three days but special enough to warrant the long drive it takes to get here.

2 Days in Ouro Preto, Brazil |This Is My Happiness.com

Why visit Ouro Preto?

Ouro Preto is a center of Brazilian history. While Americans go to Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. to see our history, Brazilians go to Ouro Preto. This town was the center of what was then (the 1690s) the largest gold discovery in the western hemisphere, and the town developed in the early 1700s as a result of the wealth from this gold rush.

Artists and the elite from Europe came to Ouro Preto, fostering Brazilian Baroque and Rococo art to develop here. The town’s many churches are what it’s most famous for, especially those with the work of Brazil’s most famous artist, Antonio Francisco Lisboa, who is called Aleijadinho.

Read more: Brazil Travel Tips

Things to see and do in Ouro Preto

Igreja de São Francisco de Assis

Aleijadinho’s masterpiece in Ouro Preto is the Church of St. Francis of Assisi (Igreja de São Francisco de Assis). He designed and carved the exterior, including the soapstone sculptures on the facade.

Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to learn everything about the city’s churches because we hired Portuguese-speaking guides (I was traveling with Brazilian family members), and English information on these churches is lacking, but if you go, hire English guides at the tourist office. (Just next to the church is a very good restaurant, Bené da Flauta.)

2 Days in Ouro Preto, Brazil |This Is My Happiness.com

Handicrafts Market

Across the street from the church is the feira, or outdoor market, which sells local handicrafts, especially items made from soapstone. You can watch people carving soapstone while you browse. The handicrafts are not expensive and make nice gifts that are very typical of this area. The market is open daily from morning to dusk:

2 Days in Ouro Preto, Brazil |This Is My Happiness.com

Praça Tiradentes

In the center of town is the main square, named after former resident Tiradentes, a leader of the 1789 attempted revolution. It has two large monuments on either end and a nice array of shops and cafés on its sides. Make time for the ice cream shop, which sells dozens of flavors, mostly containing fruits from the Amazon. Ouro Preto is a university city, and you can get a feeling for local life at the corner cafés.

Read more: The Charming Town of Tiradentes

2 Days in Ouro Preto, Brazil |This Is My Happiness.com

The Museum of the Inconfidência independence movement (Museu da Inconfidencia) is a large building from 1784. It contains the tomb of Tiradentes and historical artifacts from the movement, including torture instruments and important art works. Open Tuesday-Sunday 12:00-5:30.

2 Days in Ouro Preto, Brazil |This Is My Happiness.com

The center of the square contains a monument commemorating Tiradentes.

On the other end of the square is the old university, which now houses the Museu Mineralógico Da Escola De Minas (Mineralogy Museum). Because this area has such rich mines, you can see beautiful examples of all kinds of minerals in this museum, some from the surrounding area and others collected from around the globe.

The museum’s entrance offers nice views of the city, but if you’re with children, keep a very close eye on them; the above photo of the square and the below photo of the town were taken from the entrance:

2 Days in Ouro Preto, Brazil |This Is My Happiness.com

Adjacent to the Museu de Inconfidência is the church of Nossa Senhora do Carmo (Our Lady of Mount Carmel). Besides being one of Ouro Preto’s most beautiful churches, its hilltop location allows for views of the town and surrounding hills.

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The wall along the front of the church is a nice place to sit to watch the sun set and take in the surrounding views in the evening light.

2 Days in Ouro Preto, Brazil |This Is My Happiness.com2 Days in Ouro Preto, Brazil |This Is My Happiness.com

2 Days in Ouro Preto, Brazil |This Is My Happiness.com

Ouro Preto’s Two Sides

From Tiradentes Square, the town splits in two directions. If you’re facing the Museu de Inconfidência, with the white Mineralogy Museum behind you, to the left is the St. Francis of Assisi church and handicrafts market as well as charming, quieter streets. To the right, streets go steeply downward to a couple of the city’s other main attractions, which I’ll show you in a moment. First, let’s see what lies to the left of the square.

As we descended from the square to the handicraft market and Church of St. Francis of Assisi, we passed many historic houses and a view of the nearby mountains and the famous shape of the peak of Itacolomy, which formerly served as a handy landmark for gold seekers trying to find their way back to Ouro Preto.

2 Days in Ouro Preto, Brazil |This Is My Happiness.com

The rest of this side of town is filled with hilly streets of historic houses, artisan shops, and occasional interesting landmarks, including the restored Igreja Nossa Senhora da Conceição.

2 Days in Ouro Preto, Brazil |This Is My Happiness.com

2 Days in Ouro Preto, Brazil |This Is My Happiness.com

2 Days in Ouro Preto, Brazil |This Is My Happiness.com

2 Days in Ouro Preto, Brazil |This Is My Happiness.com

2 Days in Ouro Preto, Brazil |This Is My Happiness.com

2 Days in Ouro Preto, Brazil |This Is My Happiness.com

2 Days in Ouro Preto, Brazil |This Is My Happiness.com

Down one particularly tiny, walled street is the Church of Our Lady of Mercy from 1772. Our pousada, or B&B, was at the end of this tiny street, and we walked by the church several times but never noticed anyone coming or going. The steps and climbing plants, and the fact that the church was completely lit at night, made it quite beautiful, I thought.

2 Days in Ouro Preto, Brazil |This Is My Happiness.com

On the other side of town (if you’re in the square facing the Museu de Inconfidência and descend to the right) is the city’s second most important church as well as several places of historic importance.

2 Days in Ouro Preto, Brazil |This Is My Happiness.com

One of Ouro Preto’s most distinctive features is the decorative balconies and other exterior details. Because the city used to be so rich, the houses were decorated with ornate iron balconies and lanterns, and every house uses colorful window trim (more windows and doors here).

2 Days in Ouro Preto, Brazil |This Is My Happiness.com

The Igreja Matriz de Nossa Senhora do Pilar (Church of Our Lady of Pilar) is known for the huge amount of gold inside, the second largest amount of gold inside a Brazilian church. The church is located in a pleasant square with shops and quaint side streets to explore.

2 Days in Ouro Preto, Brazil |This Is My Happiness.com

2 Days in Ouro Preto, Brazil |This Is My Happiness.com

The Casa dos Contos, or the House of Tales, was where gold was originally weighed. We visited its historic rooms and the senzala, or slave quarters under the building. This was one of the most interesting places I visited in Ouro Preto, partly for the artifacts of Brazil’s sad past of slavery and for the modern art gallery also housed in this historic building.

2 Days in Ouro Preto, Brazil |This Is My Happiness.com

Near Ouro Preto

Just outside of Ouro Preto, is the another cute but smaller historic town, Mariana, and the nearby Minas de Passagem. The tour took us down into the mine on a rickety antique cable car.

The mine was opened in 1719 and is now the largest gold mine open to the public in the world. There is a crystal blue lake that visitors can even swim or cave dive in; we did neither but really enjoyed looking around a small part of the 30 km of underground of tunnels.

2 Days in Ouro Preto, Brazil |This Is My Happiness.com

Ouro Preto left a huge impression on all of us. The beauty found around every corner, the way the city is so well preserved, and the city’s history make it the most interesting place I’ve visited in a long time.

What UNESCO Heritage Sites have you visited? Have you been to Ouro Preto or the historic towns of Brazil?

Find the lowest hotel prices on Booking.com or save $40 on your first rental on Airbnb.

Check out these guidebooks for more information:

     

P.S. More about Minas Gerais, Brazil:

Tiradentes, the Cutest Town in Brazil?

The Windows and Doors of Minas Gerais

Cutting Edge Brazil at Inhotim

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22 Comments

  1. says: Brianna

    The gorgeous town of Melk, located along the banks of the Danube in Austria, was the last UNESCO site I visited. Jenna, I really enjoyed learning about Ouro Preto. The colonial architecture really shows its ties back to Portugal.

    1. says: Jenna

      Going to check out your post about Melk now 🙂 And I’m glad you enjoyed learning about this special city!

    1. says: Jenna

      Thank you for the kind words! When you go to Brazil, a road trip in Minas should definitely be on the list.

    1. says: Jenna

      Well, Paraty is pretty beautiful, especially because of it being on the water and the mountains in the background, but I think Ouro Preto is maybe more impressive because it seems to go on and on and has so many large monuments and churches.

  2. says: Tricia

    Jenna, Ouro Preto’s graceful architectural details (I love the trio of faces and the gingerbread-like homes) contrast nicely with the rugged landscape. With many destinations becoming museum-like tourist towns, It’s also refreshing to hear that it’s been able to maintain its lived-in character. Even though (I think) you did your own driving on your family road-trip, did you hear anything about what it’s like getting to Ouro Preto (or to other notable spots in Brazil) by using mass transit?

    1. says: Jenna

      There is a university there, which I think helps the city maintain its character. Your question about traveling around Brazil with mass transit is a good one! I have asked my family members about this a lot but we always drive so I have no experience. Brazil is such a huge country that many people fly from one city to another (e.g. from Sao Paulo to Rio). The bus is a common way to get around, too. My family members sometimes take the bus to visit family in other cities. I hear people talk about taking the train but have never seen one or heard first-hand accounts. I’ll try to find out more about getting to Ouro Preto and update this post.

  3. When I’ll travel to Brazil, I’ll make sure I won’t miss out on Ouro Preto!
    Looks so beautiful and when I first found out about it a few years ago, I couldn’t believe my eyes…
    Nice photos you have there 🙂

  4. says: David G.

    I traveled to Ouro Preto in September 2014. It was a great place to visit. I was very impressed and if you find yourself in Brazil this is a place you should make every attempted to visit.

  5. says: C.B.Borges

    I am from Brazil, but I never traveled to Ouro Preto…Well…One day I’ll go. (Sorry,I don’t have a good english)”Que Deus me livre e Guarde, eu não vou ficar sem ir!”

    1. says: Jenna

      It happens that we often don’t visit the places that are right in our own countries. Of course in Brazil, that can also happen because places are far from each other. Thanks for the quote in Portuguese. I enjoyed it 🙂

  6. says: Gerald

    Hi Jenna this was a great post! Convinced me that I should stop over in Ouro Preto on the way over to spend a few days in Santuario do Caraca. My wife and I are having trouble figuring out transportation around the area. I wondered if you thought it would be possible for a foreigner to attempt it as a road trip. We’re from Malaysia and I’ve driven in Indonesia as well. Would we struggle to to a road trip from Belo Horizonte through Ouro Preto and the Sanctuary then back? I’m asking as we’ve heard so many warnings about driving in Brazil but I wondered if it’s much different from many places in Southeast Asia. Thanks so much!

    1. says: Jenna

      Hi Gerald, Driving in Brazil is okay but it really depends on the road. Some roads are crowded and you have to be careful of the trucks, which move very slowly. There are also many radar checks and places where the police are stationed on the roads, so you have to be very careful to follow the speed signs. I will check into the road that goes to the places you mentioned and will comment again.

  7. says: emmly

    nice sharing, I also spent a really good time there during my last summer holidays and came back with many pleasant memories.

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