Brazil contains Ouro Preto, a colonial city designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1980.
Ouro Preto developed in the mountains of Minas Gerais during the Brazilian gold rush of the late 17th and early 18th centuries. Its original name, Vila Rica, means “Rich Village,” reflecting the wealth extracted from nearby mines.
The city is famous for steep streets, ornate churches and the work of Antônio Francisco Lisboa, known as Aleijadinho. His sculptures and architectural designs are central examples of Brazilian colonial Baroque and Rococo art. The Church of São Francisco de Assis is among the city’s best-known monuments.
Ouro Preto was the capital of Minas Gerais until 1897, when the planned city of Belo Horizonte replaced it. Unlike a modern grid-planned capital, Ouro Preto follows the difficult contours of a mountainous landscape.