Above right: Museu da Inconfidência at Praça Tiradentes (the main square of Ouro Preto)
Time warp? All I knew was when I arrived in Ouro Preto, after a 7 hour overnight bus ride from Rio de Janeiro, I felt like I had stepped back into the middle ages. The Baroque architecture in Ouro Preto (founded in 1711) is still beautifully preserved in many churches and homes of this handsome town in the state of Minas Gerais. It is hard not to be charmed by this former gold and diamond mining town - the 13 churches, the cobblestone streets, the wrought-iron balconies, the gilded wood-carvings in the chapels, the well-coordinated pastel colo(u)rs of rows of homes, and even the 30-40 degrees steep and winding hills. The town is simply well put together.
Most of the credit of the town's Baroque artwork goes to Aleijadinho (Antonio Francisco Lisboa), son of a Portuguese architect and an African slave. Even when he lost the use of his hands, Brazil's Michelangelo continued to work with a hammer and chisel strapped to his arms.
Above: Sao Francisco de Assis, built in 1794, was Aleijadinho's final masterpiece; the facade and interior were all sculpted by him
Above: In wet weather, these sloping and twisting paths are like sandy hills to aged feet
Most of the credit of the town's Baroque artwork goes to Aleijadinho (Antonio Francisco Lisboa), son of a Portuguese architect and an African slave. Even when he lost the use of his hands, Brazil's Michelangelo continued to work with a hammer and chisel strapped to his arms.
Above: Sao Francisco de Assis, built in 1794, was Aleijadinho's final masterpiece; the facade and interior were all sculpted by him
Above: The nave ceiling (left) of the Virgin Mary in Heaven, painted by Manuel da Costa Atayde, and main altar (right) of Sao Francisco de Assis
Above: In wet weather, these sloping and twisting paths are like sandy hills to aged feet
Above left: Santuario de N.S. da Conceicao
Above left: Traditional Mineira cuisine
Above: Igreja N.S. do Rosario dos Pretos - the church formerly used by slaves (with none of the Baroque excesses)
Above: Interior of Igreja N.S. do Rosario dos Pretos
Above right: Cute lamp shade
Above left: Facade of Matriz Nossa Senhora do Pilar church (built in 1786);
Above right: Main altar of Matriz N.S. do Pilar (constructed in gold)
Above right: Main altar of Matriz N.S. do Pilar (constructed in gold)
Above left: Mary and Jesus in Matriz N.S. do Pilar
Above right: Coffee break at Praça Tiradentes
Above left: Sao Francisco de Paula
Above right: Coffee break at Praça Tiradentes
Above: Interior of Sao Francisco de Paula
Above: Life-size wood carvings of the Last Supper at Sao Francisco de Paula
