Minas Gerais

DAY 18 (3 OF 3) – SUNSET, OURO PRETO, BRAZIL

After lunch, we visited the Museu da Inconfidencia, the main city museum of Ouro Preto. We learnt a great deal more about the history of gold mining in Ouro Preto, the work of artist Aleijadinho, and the incident of Inconfidencia Mineira (a failed Brazilian separatist movement in 1789). At dusk, we wandered in the area near Igreja de Sao Francisco de Assis for its beautiful views towards Santa Efigenia Parish.

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More posts on Minas Gerais, Brazil
Day 15.2 – Museu des Minas do Metal, Belo Horizonte
Day 15.3 – Brazilian Churrascarla, Belo Horizonte
Day 16 – Inhotim, Brumadinho
Day 17.1 – Ouro Preto
Day 17.2 – Cafe Geraes, Ouro Preto
Day 17.3 – Afternoon Stroll, Ouro Preto
Day 17.4 – Rua do Pilar, Ouro Preto
Day 18.1 – Townscape, Ouro Preto
Day 18.2 – A Walk to Igreja de Santa Efigenia dos Pretos, Ouro Preto
Day 18.3 – Sunset, Ouro Preto
Day 19 – Ouro Preto to Rio de Janeiro

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South America 2013 – Our Destinations
Buenos Aires (Argentina), Iguazu Falls (Argentina/Brazil), Pantanal (Brazil), Brasilia (Brazil), Belo Horizonte & Inhotim (Brazil), Ouro Preto (Brazil), Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), Paraty (Brazil), Sao Paulo (Brazil), Samaipata & Santa Cruz (Bolivia), Sucre (Bolivia), Potosi (Bolivia), Southwest Circuit (Bolivia), Tilcara, Purmamarca, Salta (Argentina), Cafayate (Argentina), San Pedro de Atacama (Chile), Antofagasta & Paranal Observatory (Chile), Chiloe (Chile), Puerto Varas (Chile), Torres del Paine (Chile), Ushuaia (Argentina), El Chalten (Argentina), El Calafate (Argentina), Isla Magdalena (Argentina), Santiago (Chile), Valparaiso (Chile), Afterthought

October 25, 2013 | Categories: Brazil, Day 11 to 20, Minas Gerais | Tags: Architecture, Baroque, Brazil, destination, highlight, journal, Ouro Preto, photo, sight, South America, Travel | 1 Comment

DAY 18 (2 OF 3) – A WALK TO IGREJA DE SANTA EFIGENIA DOS PRETOS, OURO PRETO, BRAZIL

Before lunch, we ventured out of main square area to Santa Efigenia Parish. After an exhausting downhill and uphill walk, we reached Igreja de Santa Efigenia dos Pretos, the mother church of the parish. Unfortunately the church was under renovation and public access was not allowed. With the magnificent cityscape and scenery along the way, we didn’t regret the long walk.

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October 25, 2013 | Categories: Brazil, Day 11 to 20, Minas Gerais | Tags: Architecture, Baroque, Brazil, highlight, journal, must see, Ouro Preto, photo, South America, things-to-do, Travel | Leave a comment

DAY 18 (1 OF 3) – TOWNSCAPE, OURO PRETO, BRAZIL

Recommended by guidebook, a 5-minute morning walk along Rua Conselheiro Quintiliano northest of Praca Tiradentes brought us to a panoramic view of the churches and rooftops. Without the cars, street lamps, and electrical poles, Ouro Preto would look exactly like a Baroque city back in the 18th century.

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October 25, 2013 | Categories: Brazil, Day 11 to 20, Minas Gerais | Tags: Architecture, Baroque, Brazil, destination, journal, must see, Ouro Preto, photo, South America, things-to-do, Travel | Leave a comment

DAY 17 (4 OF 4) – RUA DO PILAR, OURO PRETO, BRAZIL

Rua do Pilar, the steep winding street where our hostel is located.

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October 25, 2013 | Categories: Brazil, Day 11 to 20, Minas Gerais | Tags: Brazil, destination, journal, must see, Ouro Preto, photo, Pilar, South America, things-to-do, Travel | Leave a comment

DAY 17 (3 of 4) – AFTERNOON STROLL, OURO PRETO, BRAZIL

In the afternoon, we visited two well known churches in Ouro Preto: Igreja de Sao Francisco de Assis for its carving by Aleijadinho, and Igreja Matriz de Nossa Senhora do Pilar for its 434kg of gold and silver decorations. After the churches, we strolled around the town under the late afternoon sun. At dusk, we returned to Praca Tirandentes, the central square of Ouro Preto.

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October 25, 2013 | Categories: Brazil, Day 11 to 20, Minas Gerais | Tags: Architecture, attraction, Baroque, Brazil, journal, must see, Ouro Preto, photo, South America, things-to-do, Travel | Leave a comment

DAY 17 (2 OF 4) – CAFE GERAES, OURO PRETO, BRAZIL

Our favorite restaurant in Ouro Preto, especially for their almoco executivo (set lunch menu).

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October 25, 2013 | Categories: Brazil, Day 11 to 20, Minas Gerais | Tags: attraction, Brazil, Cafe Geraes, destination, food, Ouro Preto, restaurant, sight, South America, thing to do | Leave a comment

DAY 17 (1 OF 4) – OURO PRETO, BRAZIL

Ouro Preto, which literally translates as “Black Gold” in English, was the state capital of Minas Gerais. Inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list, it is considered as the best preserved historical colonial town in Brazil. In the 18th century, Ouro Preto was the centre of the largest gold mining region in the New World. The bustling city was one of the biggest city in the New World, with miners, priests, artists, artisans, and tens of thousands of slaves from Africa. Divided into different parishes each with its own mother church, Ouro Preto was famous for its Baroque churches. After the state capital was moved to Belo Horizonte in 1897, Ouro Preto went through a gradual decline. Today, the 23 well preserved Baroque churches, fine soapstone and wooden statues, winding alleys, and steep cobblestone streets make Ouro Preto one of the busiest tourist cities in Brazil. The city also serves a centre for education and arts in the region.