Life in Brasil: A trip to Ouro Preto

Neiva and I were invited to a wonderful wedding in Belo Horizonte this last weekend and we took the opportunity to visit the old towns of Ouro Preto and Mariana. Here are some photos we took. Even though it was a cloudy and drizzly day we really enjoyed the sights.

Ouro Preto located in the Serra do Espinhoca mountains was original called Vila Rica, Rich Village, came about because of the gold rush in the late 1700s, early 1800s. It was the state capital for some years and is where an attempted revolt against the Portuguese throne started and is where the leader Tiredentes was hanged. Also the center of culture in those early days and where many churches were filled with gold plated statues. Mariana is a nearby city which was founded in 1696, earlier than Ouro Preto but after a flood, many townspeople moved to where Ouro Preto is today.

I hope you enjoy the visit like we did.

The first are photos taken as we drove into Mariana.

The old Door

A view of Mariana

Little Portuguese style houses on the way in to Mariana

Neiva with our very knowledgeable guide, Sidneia Diniz.

This church had 1763 on the doorway emblem

A balcony of a house had this lucky charm on it.

Steep streets in Mariana

This is the little Se Cathedral that housed a wonderful old Arp Schnitger organ.

The organ had been made near Hamburg, by a celebrated Germany

organ maker, Arp Schnitger at the beginning of the 1700s.

It had been a gift from King of Portugal, Joao the Fifth, to his son Jose the First, in 1752 and installed in the Se Cathedral in 1753.

With numerous donations and support from local mining business, the Vitae Foundaton, Varig and Tam airlines, the 250 year old organ has been restored to its original form.

It has been the center for a renascence of organ music and many presentations, lessons and concerts are offered and so far 12 cds of organ music have been produced on it.

We were lucky enough to arrive when they were about to give another presentation.