Ouro Preto

Capela Do Bom Jesus das Cabeças ou De São Miguel E Almas

The beautiful entranceway was made by Aleijadinho, and many paintings inside are attributed to Manoel da Costa Ataíde.

Capela do Padre Faria

Built in 1710, this is one of the oldest buildings in the region.

Casa Guignard

Guignard House

This museum has a collection of paintings by Alberto da Veiga Guignard, an influential painter who lived his last years in the town.

Casa dos Contos

Tax Collection House

Once a home of the regional tax collector, this colonial baroque structure served as a jail for revolutionaries in the late 18th century.

Igreja Nossa Senhora do Rosário

Built in 1785 with slave labor. Slaves were forbidden to worship at any other church. The church has a unique shape, with a contour formed by three convergent ovals.

Tue-Sun 12:00-17:00·Free

Igreja Santa Efigênia

This hilltop church, dedicated to an Ethiopian saint, was very popular with slaves and their descendants. It was supposedly built by Chico Rei and decorated with gold from the mine which bears his name. (See below)

Igreja São Francisco de Paula

Completed in the 1898, this church took a whopping 94 years to complete. Inside are Aleijadinho's sculpture of the saint after which it is named, as well as a life-size sculpture of the Last Supper.

Tue-Sun 00:00-11:15 and 13:30PM-16:45

Igreja da Nossa Senhora do Carmo

This rococo-style church, built in 1766, holds the last works of Aleijadinho as well as the above-mentioned Oratory Museum.

Igreja de Nossa Senhora do Pilar

The oldest church in the city was designed by one of Aleijadinho's mentors and completed in 1731 to replace the original main church. Despite the rather stark outward appearance, the interior glistens with almost 1000 pounds (450 kg) of gold and almost 900 pounds (400 kg) of silver. The basement of the church holds the Museum of Sacred Art.

Tue-Sun 09:00-11:00 and 12:00-17:00·R$4

Igreja de São Francisco de Assis

This unique rococo-style church, built in 1776, is one of Aleijadinho's greatest works.

Igreja de São José

This church, completed in 1811, was partially designed by Aleijadinho. It is being renovated.

Itacolomi State Park

Parque Estadual do Itacolomi

Shared by the municipalities of Ouro Preto and Mariana is a park which contains very diverse flora and fauna with many hiking opportunities. The centerpiece of the park, Itacolomi Peak, is a pair of rocks, one huge and one much smaller, which can be seen from hilltops around town. Itacolomi means "the Rock and the Boy" in Tupi. For experienced hikers, it is possible to take a difficult 12-km trek through the park to visit the village of Lavras Novas and its nearby waterfalls. Visitors to the park must be accompanied by a guide, which can be arranged in advance by telephone.

Thu-Sun 08:00-17:00

Matriz de Nossa Senhora da Conceição

This 1727 church is famous for its 8 lavishly decorated altars. The cemetery here has the grave of Aleijadinho, and the sacristy houses a museum dedicated to him.

Tue-Sun 09:00-10:45 and 12:00-16:45

Mina Chico Rei

Chico Rei Mine, also known as Encardideira

One of the largest and most-visited gold mines in the area, this mine was named for the legendary Chico Rei (see the infobox). There are guided tours.

Daily 08:00-16:00·R$10

Mina Fonte Meu Bem Querer

An interesting mine in which you can see petrified trees in the tunnel walls.

Daily 08:00-18:00

Mina Velha

Old Mine

Opened in 1704, this is oldest mine in town. This mine was dug by slaves and shows the contrast between hand dug mines and industrially dug mines (such as Mina da Passagem). Look for the veins of mica and ocher visible in the tunnel walls. The walking space is very limited and in certain locations can be claustrophobic for those who do not enjoy enclosed spaces.

Closed · opens 8:30 am tomorrow·R$5

Mina da Passagem

Mine of the Crossing

This is said to be the world´s largest mine open to the public. In order to reach the mining galleries a small trolley is used and it is held by a steel cable. You descend for 315 m and the total depth reaches 120 m. The visit to the mine is accompanied by a guide (who normally does not speak English, so make sure you have someone who can translate for you). Apart from the grandiosity of the excavation, there is also a beautiful underground lake. If you plan to take pictures, you will need a tripod and a lower shutter speed. Otherwise your pictures will be either blurred or totally blacked out. Tours can be arranged through.

R$17

Museu Aleijadinho

Many important works by Aleijadinho are elsewhere in the city, but this small museum has a few gems, including a strikingly life-like bust of Saint Francis of Paola.

R$3, students half-price

Museu da Inconfidência

This museum is dedicated to the memory of the Inconfidência Mineira, an unsuccessful 1789 revolt against Portuguese rule which was inspired by the American Revolution. The building, one of the best extant specimens of colonial baroque architecture, houses the remains of some of the revolutionaries, a library, archives, and works by artists of the period, including works by Aleijadinho and Manuel da Costa Ataíde.

R$2

Museu de Mineralogia

Museu de Ciência e Técnica da Escola de Minas

This mineralogy museum has a quite varied collection of minerals from quartz to diamond to uranium, including many rare specimens. Children have free admission.

R$5

Museu do Oratório

This charming museum has a large collection of over 300 elaborately decorated oratories, small portable prayer altars made for home or travel use.

R$4

Praça Tiradentes

The definitive center of the town. On the north side of the square is the Escolas de Minas (School of Mines), with a museum of mineralogy. On the south side is the Museu da Inconfidência.

Teatro Municipal

Opera House

The oldest functioning theater in South America opened in 1770 and still has occasional evening concerts.

Daily 12:00-17:30

Museu de Arte Sacra

Museum of Sacred Art

Praça Monsenhor Castilho Barbosa

OPM Empreendimentos Ltd

Passagem de Mariana, (on the road to Mariana).