Everywhere: Articles: Ouro Preto, Brazil

An old colonial town in the interior of Brazil charms visitors with history and stunning views.

Ouro Preto Brazil by Landon Wright

Located along the Estrada Real, Ouro Preto was a rich mining town until the 18th century.

Ouro Preto is a four hour drive north of Rio and about an hour and a half from Belo Horizonte. The town sits on the side of a mountain and the local streets are a challenge for the casual trekker. Touring the town on foot is highly recommended. The streets are paved with cobblestones and the sidewalks are large slate slabs that always lead to a trinket shop or an art gallery. Ouro Preto is steeped in history and planning a trip one must look into the "Estrada Real" which translates in to Royal Road. The Royal Road was established to get gold from the interior colonial towns down to Rio and Paraty on the coast and then shipbound for Portugal.

Ouro Preto is a world heritage site designated by UNESCO and the city is steadily reforming and renovating the historic buildings. This town is a must see for architecture and history buffs. Foodies will also be content with the "comida mineira" or miner food which is a mix soul food and country cooking.My favorite dish is chicken with okra, frango com quiabo. Hotels in this city are very original and clean. Most have internet access and great breakfast buffets. Expect to spend about 70 to 150 USD on a room per night.

Easter weekend turns Ouro Preto into a beautiful pageant. The locals compete in a contest to decorate their section of the parade route. They design the layout in chalk on the cobblestone road the night before the parade and then burn the midnight oil putting colored sawdust down. They used flower pedals way back when but know I think the sawdust is a more economic and logical choice. The designs range from religious to abstract. Planning a trip here during this pageant is well worth your time and effort getting here.

Traveling to smaller towns in Brazil can be an adventure. The roads to Ouro Preto do not have straightaways. Plan for delays, carsickness and lots of crazy drivers. However the scenery along the way is amazing. You get a great feel for the real interior far removed from the hustle bustle of Rio, Sao Paulo and Belo Horizonte. The closest airport is Confins (CNF) in Belo Horizonte. Flights from Rio or Sao Paulo are regular and take about an hour to reach Confins.

Everyone has heard about Rio and Sao Paulo, few have discovered these small historic colonial towns. The tourism council has yet to competently promote this gem so you will experience few fellow international tourists.