See

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)

Address: Rua Santa Efigênia

Directions Suggest a nearby place

Listing from Wikivoyage: Ouro Preto, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Updated 28 Sept 2026. Something wrong? Tell us.

Close by

See
Mina Fonte Meu Bem Querer
An interesting mine in which you can see petrified trees in the tunnel walls.
Daily 08:00-18:00
See
Capela do Padre Faria
Built in 1710, this is one of the oldest buildings in the region.
See
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 08:00-16:00R$10
See
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.
Open now · closes 5 pmR$5