Chapel in the mine

Beautiful Ouro Preto and Mariana

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July 2nd 2010
Ouro Preto is the prettiest town I’ve seen so far in South America. It really is beautiful. It was built towards the end of the 17th century to serve as the capital of Minas Gerais state, doing so until Belo Horizonte was constructed. As it declined in importance, it has preserved its small town charm and its baroque architecture - it feels a bit like stepping back in time. Ouro Preto means ... read more

South America » Brazil » Minas Gerais » Ouro Preto

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Following three centuries under the rule of Portugal, Brazil became an independent nation in 1822. By far the largest and most populous country in South America, Brazil overcame more than half a century of military intervention in the governance of t... ... read more