drugs, police, beautiful women, and minerals non debauchary addition
My trip to ouro preto was quite contradictory. Although my memories are a tad bit hazy, I had a fairly insane time, to put it nicely.
For those who do not know much about the history of
Founded at the end of the 17th century, Ouro Preto (meaning Black Gold) was the focal point of the gold rush and Brazil's golden age in the 18th century during
The city contains well preserved colonial architecture, with few signs of modern urban life. Churches decorated with gold and the works of Aleijadinho make Ouro Preto a tourist destination. In colonial times art was fairly advanced and developed into the "Barroco Mineiro", with many sculptors (Aleijadinho), painters (Mestre Athayde), composers (Lobo de Mesquita family), poets (Thomas Gonzaga).
In 1789, Ouro Preto was the starting point of the Inconfidência Mineira, a failed attempt to break from Portugal and form a Brazilian republic.
In 1876 the Escola de Minas (mining engineering school) was created and set the technical basis for several mineral discoveries in
Ouro Preto was capital of Minas Gerais from 1822 until 1897, when the government moved to the new and planned city of Belo Horizonte.
So basically ouro preto is beautiful historic city, and the side of lots and lots of historical buildings, a mineral museum, and a world class university that has waaaaay to many parties. Also during the weekends, and for festivals the streets of ouro preto are closed off to traffic, and the place is basically a giant night club.
However ouro preto has many things to do, and although it is a party town it also has many educational things to go see. Most notably check out the mineral museum. It also has many baraque churches that should be visited, and you won't be disapointed.
Also the native food is a bit goofy. They have a few things worth trying. The first are dumplings filled with sausage. Also they have this odd dish of beans and sausage called like fiejado. Its the national dish of
