Ouro Preto, Colonial city in Minas Gerais, Brazil
Ouro Preto is a municipality in Minas Gerais, Brazil, extending across mountainous terrain at 1,216 meters elevation with steep streets, cobblestone paths, and numerous Baroque churches. Narrow lanes wind between multistory houses with wooden balconies and whitewashed facades.
Founded in 1711 during the Brazilian gold rush, the town grew into Latin America's largest city with 80,000 inhabitants, surpassing New York and São Paulo at the time. Wealth from the mines funded the construction of monumental church complexes that now define the cityscape.
The Federal University of Ouro Preto maintains a system of communal student housing called repúblicas, creating a distinctive academic environment within the city. These shared residences follow their own traditions and shape daily life in many historic buildings.
The town connects to major Brazilian destinations through mountain roads, with regular bus services from Belo Horizonte operating throughout the day. Comfortable footwear is essential due to the sloped cobblestone streets that can become slippery when wet.
The Zé Pereira dos Lacaios carnival block, founded in 1867, continues to perform during the annual street celebrations, preserving traditional festivities. The group wears historic costumes and follows a route that has remained unchanged for over a century.
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