The site of the gold rush and the centre of Brazil's “Golden Age” in the 18th century, Ouro Preto was founded in the late 17th century. Preto means black, yet it was indeed gold that was at stake — discovered by pioneers in the rivers of Vila Rica, darkened by oxidation, and that gave this village in the mountains of Minas Gerais its new name in the early 18th century. With the depletion of the gold mines in the 19th century, Ouro Preto's influence declined, but many churches, bridges and fountains, along with its cobbled streets, still stand as testimony to its former prosperity and to the exceptional talent of the Baroque sculptor Aleijadinho. A cultural heritage listed by UNESCO.
