Ouro Preto

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Ouro Preto (Portuguese pronunciation: [ˈo(w)ɾu ˈpɾetu], lit. 'Black Gold'), formerly Vila Rica (Portuguese pronunciation: [ˈvilɐ ˈʁikɐ], lit. 'Rich Town'), is a municipality in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. The city, a former colonial mining town located in the Serra do Espinhaço mountains, was designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO due to its Baroque colonial architecture. Ouro Preto used to be the capital of Minas Gerais from 1720 until the foundation of Belo Horizonte in 1897. The municipality became one of the most populous cities of Latin America, counting on about 40,000 people in 1730, and 80,000 in 1750. At that time, the population of New York was less than half of that number of inhabitants and the population of São Paulo did not surpass 8,000. Officially, 800 tons of gold were sent to Portugal in the eighteenth century, not to mention what was circulated in an illegal manner, nor what remained in the colony, such as gold used in the ornamentation of the churches. Other historical cities in Minas Gerais are São João del-Rei, Diamantina, Mariana, Tiradentes, Congonhas and Sabará.

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Introduction

"Vila Rica" redirects here. For the municipality in Mato Grosso, see Vila Rica, Mato Grosso. For the cigarette brand, see Vila Rica (cigarette). Municipality in Minas Gerais, BrazilOuro PretoMunicipalityMunicipality of Ouro Preto FlagCoat of armsMotto:  Proetiosum aurum nigrum(Precious black gold)Location in Minas GeraisCoordinates: 20°23′07″S 43°30′13″W / 20.38528°S 43.50361°W / -20.38528; -43.50361Country BrazilState Minas GeraisRegionSoutheastIntermediate RegionBelo HorizonteImmediate RegionSanta Bárbara-Ouro PretoFounded8 July 1711Government • MayorÂngelo Oswaldo de Araújo Santos (PV)Area • Total1,245.865 km2 (481.031 sq mi)Elevation1,150 m (3,770 ft)Population (2020) • Total74,558 • Density59.844/km2 (155.00/sq mi)Demonymouro-pretanoTime zoneUTC−3 (BRT)HDI (2010)0.741 – highWebsiteouropreto.mg.gov.brUNESCO World Heritage SiteOfficial nameHistoric Town of Ouro PretoTypeCulturalCriteriai, iiiDesignated1980 (4th session)Reference no.124RegionSouth America Ouro Preto (Portuguese pronunciation: [ˈo(w)ɾu ˈpɾetu], lit. 'Black Gold'), formerly Vila Rica (Portuguese pronunciation: [ˈvilɐ ˈʁikɐ], lit. 'Rich Town'), is a municipality in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. The city, a former colonial mining town located in the Serra do Espinhaço mountains, was designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO due to its Baroque colonial architecture. Ouro Preto used to be the capital of Minas Gerais from 1720 until the foundation of Belo Horizonte in 1897. The municipality became one of the most populous cities of Latin America, counting on about 40,000 people in 1730, and 80,000 in 1750. At that time, the population of New York was less than half of that number of inhabitants and the population of São Paulo did not surpass 8,000. Officially, 800 tons of gold were sent to Portugal in the eighteenth century, not to mention what was circulated in an illegal manner, nor what remained in the colony, such as gold used in the ornamentation of the churches. Other historical cities in Minas Gerais are São João del-Rei, Diamantina, Mariana, Tiradentes, Congonhas and Sabará.

History

[edit] Villa Rica de Ouro Preto (19th century) In 1695, at Rio das Velhas, Manuel Borba Gato discovered gold, the start of the Brazilian Gold Rush. In 1698, Vila Rica (later Ouro Preto) was established, becoming the capital of Minas Gerais from 1720 to 1897. In 1697, the Estrada Real was established by the crown to promote development of the interior, reaching from the coast through Ouro Preto onwards to Diamantina. Founded at the end of the 17th century, Ouro Preto (meaning Black Gold) was originally called Vila Rica, or "Rich Village", the focal point of the gold rush and Brazil's golden age in the 18th century under Portuguese rule. Between 1695 and 1696, a gold-bearing stream was discovered in Itacolomi, which would be renamed Gualacho do Sul. In 1711, several small settlements were united as a municipality called Villa Rica, which later came to be called Ouro Preto. This name was adopted on 20 May 1823, when the former Vila Rica was elevated from village to city. The name "Black Gold" comes from the gold covered with a layer of iron oxide that is found in the city. The city centre contains well-preserved Portuguese colonial architecture, with few signs of modern urban development. New construction must keep with the city's historical aesthetic. 18th- and 19th-century churches decorated with gold and the sculptured works of Aleijadinho make Ouro Preto a tourist destination. The tremendous wealth from gold mining in the 18th century created a city which attracted the intelligentsia of Europe. Philosophy and art flourished, and evidence of a baroque revival called the "Barroco Mineiro" is illustrated in architecture as well as by sculptors such as Aleijadinho, painters such as Manoel da Costa Ataíde, composers such as Lobo de Mesquita, and poets such as Tomás António Gonzaga. At that time, Vila Rica was the largest city in Brazil, with 100,000 inhabitants. In 1789, Ouro Preto became the birthplace of the Inconfidência Mineira, a failed attempt to gain independence from Portugal. The leading figure, Joaquim José da Silva Xavier, known as Tiradentes, was hanged as a threat to any future revolutionaries. In 1876, the Escola de Minas (Mines School) was created. This school established the technological foundation for several of the mineral discoveries in Brazil. Ouro Preto was the capital of Minas Gerais from 1720 until 1897, when the needs of government outgrew this town in the valley. The state government was moved to the new, planned city of Belo Horizonte.

Geography

[edit] Important data[edit] Population: Data from the 2010 Census (IBGE) Resident population: 70,227 (2010 Census) Urban area: 56,293 Rural area: 9,985 Area of the municipality: 1,245 km2 Temperature: between 6 and 28 degrees Celsius. In June and July the temperature can reach -2 degrees Celsius. Average elevation: 1,116 m. The highest point is Pico de Itacolomi with 1,722 meters. The city has twelve districts: Amarantina, Antônio Pereira, Cachoeira do Campo, Engenheiro Correia, Glaura, Lavras Novas, Miguel Burnier, Santa Rita, Santo Antônio do Leite, Santo Antônio do Salto, São Bartolomeu and Rodrigo Silva. Rivers: sources for the Velhas, Piracicaba, Gualaxo do Norte, Gualaxo do Sul, Mainart e Ribeirão Funil. Per Capita Income: R$23,622 (US$6,270.16) HDI: 0.741 (High) Location[edit] The city is linked by unlit winding roads to highways for: Belo Horizonte 100 km Rio de Janeiro 475 km São Paulo 675 km Brasília 840 km Bordering municipalities are: North: Itabirito and Santa Bárbara South: Ouro Branco, Catas Altas da Noruega, Piranga and Itaverava East: Mariana West: Belo Vale and Congonhas Climate[edit] Located at 1,179 m (3,868 ft) above sea level, Ouro Preto has a tropical highland climate (Cwb, according to the Köppen climate classification), with humid summers, dry winters and mild temperatures throughout the year. Frost is occasional and occur in June and July. There is a report of snow in the city in the year of 1843. Climate data for Ouro Preto, Brazil Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 26.0(78.8) 26.1(79.0) 25.3(77.5) 24.0(75.2) 22.5(72.5) 21.6(70.9) 21.3(70.3) 23.0(73.4) 24.0(75.2) 24.2(75.6) 24.5(76.1) 24.6(76.3) 23.9(75.1) Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 15.6(60.1) 15.5(59.9) 14.0(57.2) 13.4(56.1) 10.9(51.6) 9.1(48.4) 8.3(46.9) 9.5(49.1) 12.0(53.6) 13.7(56.7) 14.7(58.5) 15.2(59.4) 12.7(54.8) Average precipitation mm (inches) 283(11.1) 208(8.2) 175(6.9) 82(3.2) 29(1.1) 17(0.7) 15(0.6) 24(0.9) 57(2.2) 115(4.5) 223(8.8) 324(12.8) 1,552(61) Source: Climatedata.org.

Tourist attractions

[edit] Panoramic view Ouro Preto is a major tourist destination, for its well-preserved colonial appearance with baroque architecture and cobblestone streets. Churches[edit] Church of Saint Francis of Assisi The city contains numerous churches, many known for their religious art and baroque architecture. Some of the best known are: Nossa Senhora do Carmo (Our Lady of Mount Carmel) - just off Tiradentes Square, next to the Inconfidência Museum. São Francisco de Assis (St. Francis of Assisi) Nossa Senhora da Conceiçao (Immaculate Conception) Capela do Padre Faria (Father Faria's Chapel) Nossa Senhora das Mercês (Our Lady of Mercy) Nossa Senhora do Pilar (Our Lady of the Pillar) Nossa Senhora do Rosário (Our Lady of the Rosary) Museums[edit] Museu da Inconfidência - In the former municipal palace on Tiradentes Plaza, traces the Inconfidencia independence movement. Museu do Oratório (Oratory Museum) - next to the church of Nossa Senhora do Carmo, displays religious art. Museu de Ciência e Técnica (Museum of Science and Technology) - in the Ouro Preto School of Mines building on Tiradentes Plaza. The museum is noted for its collection of mineral specimens. Casa Dos Contos - Historical museum. Capela Padre Fabio de Mello Museu do Aleijadinho - In the Antônio Dias plaza, historical museum known for the collection of pieces of Aleijadinho. Mines[edit] A number of former gold mines in the city offer tours to tourists. One of the most well known is the Mina do Chico Rei, near the sanctuary of Nossa Senhora da Conceição. Another infamous mine is the Mina da passagem. In the early 19th century, Portugal gave the United Kingdom exclusive use of this mine for 100 years to pay Portugal's sovereign debts. This is the world's largest mine open to the public. The municipality contains about 10% of the 31,270 hectares (77,300 acres) Serra do Gandarela National Park, created in 2014. Carnival[edit] The street carnival in Ouro Preto attracts thousands of people every year. Carnival blocks are the most traditional type of parade, where bands play across the town, followed by herds of paraders dressed up in costumes. The block Zé Pereira dos Lacaios, founded in 1867, is the oldest block that is still active in Brazil. Parades with samba schools also happen. The street party is also celebrated in neighbouring towns such as Mariana.

Ouro Preto

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Introduction

History

Geography

Economy

The University and the fraternities

Tourist attractions

Miscellaneous