Remarkable Features
Those arriving to ancient Vila Rica (Rica Village) can not ignore the beautiful and homogeneous architectonic set. Seduction comes next.

Walk over its streets creates an involvement that even before you can notice it you are already in love with the city, owner of an incredible asset and which was been awarded with the title of Heritage of Humankind. Important personalities lived there who in past times changed the history of this country. Among them: Tiradentes, Thomaz Antonio Gonzaga, Cláudio Manuel da Costa, Aleijadinho, Alvarenga Peixoto, Mestre Ataíde, among others.

Main attractions
Ouro Preto is one of the major touristic destinations in Minas Gerais. In the weekends and long holidays, the city is full of tourists. Excellent hotels have appeared to support the demand. Generally, they combine the baroque splendor with the comfort and facilities of modern life.

Ouro Preto is completed by its flavors. The senses are grouped and intensified. The baroque warmth, legends, beautiful views, the gold and gems hardness... Ingredients that refine the taste in a city full of excellent options. The authentic food of Minas Gerais (tutu, chicken with okra, "tropeiro" bean, and home desserts), in addition to Italian and French cuisine, are very well represented.

This set and its churches and museums provides Ouro Preto with the world's largest Baroque architectonic set. In 1980 the city was declared Heritage of Humankind.

Churches
N. Sra. do Pilar Main Church - The project of this church, considered as one of the most refined in the baroque period, is credited to Pedro Gomes Chaves. The carved work on the main chapel was made by Francisco Xavier de Brito. The collection also includes a magnificent gold-coated carved work and more than 400 coated angel characters. Around 400 kg of gold and another 400 kg of silver were used in its embellishment.

N. Sra. do Carmo Church - The design is from Manoel Francisco Lisboa, Aleijadinho's father, and it was built between 1766 and 1772. It was attended by the aristocracy of Vila Rica.

N. Sra. do Rosário Church - It is a rare example of the Minas Gerais baroque, with its circular, and therefore unique, façade. Its construction, started in 1785, replaced the primitive chapel. Contrasting with the external aspect, the interior aspect is quite simple, evoking black saints.

São Francisco de Assis Church - The most famous church in Ouro Preto, one of the most magnificent samples of the Minas Gerais baroque. Its construction started in 1766. It is considered Aleijadinho's master piece, who is also responsible for the building's overall risk, portal, master altar's rostrum, side altars and master chapel.

N. Sra. da Conceição Main Church - Its construction went from 1727 to 1746. The project and execution were the responsibility of Manuel Francisco Lisboa, Aleijadinho's father. Both are buried in the church. Attached to it, there is the Aleijadinho Museum.

São Francisco de Paula Church - It was the last church built on the colonial period, with execution started in 1804. The patron's image, which is currently at the Aleijadinho Museum, is credited to the master. From its churchyard there is a beautiful view of the city.

N. Sra. das Mercês e Perdões (Mercês de Baixo) - Built between 1740 and 1772 and restored in the mid 20th Century.

Santa Efigênia Church or N. Sra. do Rosário do Alto da Cruz Church - It took 60 years (1730-1790) to build it. Manuel Francisco Lisboa participated on the project, and the main chapel's carved work is credited to Francisco Xavier de Brito. The oral tradition says that it was built thanks to the gold from the Encardideira Mine, acquired by Chico Rei. In the façade there are the stone clocks, considered the oldest in the city.

N. Sra. das Mercês e Misericórdia (Mercês de Cima) Church - Church built between 1771 and 1793. The central tower was designed by Manuel Francisco de Araújo.

São José - Belonged to a brotherhood that gathered various artists. The main chapel retable and tower traces are credited to Aleijadinho. Built between 1730 and 1811.

Bom Jesus de Matozinhos or São Miguel e Almas Church - Its construction started around 1778. In the main door - crowning - the image of Saint Michael Archangel is supposedly from Aleijadinho. Inside the church, the paintings of the last supper and crucifying are credited to Mestre Ataíde.

São João Batista Chapel - It is the oldest temple in Ouro Preto, built by determination from the bandeirante Antônio Dias in 1698.

Santana Chapel - Built before 1720, near the old gold mines.

Museums
House of the Contos - Dated from 1782 to 1787, it was built by João Rodrigues de Macedo, tax collector for the Capitania of Minas Gerais, who established there his home and administration to his businesses. It served to different purposes, including jail to the partisans of the Inconfidencia Mineira. Currently, it hosts the Gold Cycle Study Center, the Currency and Exchequer Museum and the Ouro Preto IRS Agency, as well as a gallery.

Science and Technical Museum of the Escola de Minas - Created in 1877 as Mineralogy Museum by the French Claude Henri Gorceix, founder of the Escola de Minas. In 1995, it was expanded and started being called Science and Technical Museum of the Escola de Minas. Nine sectors are already implemented: Natural History (zoology e paleontology), Mining, Mineralogy, Metallurgy, Steel Metallurgy, Drawing, Topography, Astronomy, and Electrotechnics. There are more than 30 thousand pieces from all over the world.

Oratory Museum - Headquartered in the old Novicehood house, the museum gathers pieces of different styles that rescue the traditional religious habits of the Minas Gerais families.

Inconfidência Museum - Construction started in 1784, by the Municipal House of Representatives, during the Luís Cunha Menezes term in office. The works were interrupted several times, so the building was only ready in 1846. It was a city court and a jailhouse. In 1944, the Museum was opened, with a collection that gathers documents and objects that evoke the Inconfidência Mineira and several works of the Minas Gerais Historical and Artistic Heritage. The remains of the partisans of the Inconfidencia rest in the museum. The Museum also has an auditorium annex and the Manuel de Ataíde Room, for temporary exhibits.

Ouro Preto also has other attractions, like: The Aleijadinho Museum, the Guignard House, the Reduções Museum (Amarantina), the Museum of Metallurgy, the State Park of Itacolomy, and countless districts - Amarantina 9 Gota de Minas Rural Inn), Santo Antonio do Leite (30 km), Lavras Novas and Chapada.