Ouro Preto

Ouro Preto is a colonial town in the Serra do Espinhaço mountains of eastern Brazil. It’s known for its baroque architecture, including bridges, fountains and squares, and its steep, winding cobbled streets. The city, a former colonial mining town, was designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO due to its Baroque colonial architecture. The city contains numerous churches, many known for their religious art and baroque architecture.

Unesco: Historic Town of Ouro Preto
RR: Big 50 - May 2025
Date: May 19

Sanctuary of Bom Jesus do Congonhas

This sanctuary in Minais Gerais, south of Belo Horizonte was built in the second half of the 18th century. It consists of a church with a magnificent Rococo interior of Italian inspiration, an outdoor stairway decorated with statues of the prophets and seven chapels illustrating the Stations of the Cross, in which the polychrome sculptures by Aleijadinho are masterpieces of a highly original, moving, expressive form of Baroque art.

Unesco: Sanctuary of Bom Jesus do Congonhas
Thanks Silvia!
Date: April 14

Historic Centre of Diamantina

Among the beautiful churches in the Historic Centre of Diamantina, lies the oldest of them all, the Nossa Senhora do Rosário Church, built between 1728 and 1731. Its architecture consists of a single tower on the right side of the altar. Diamantina was built during the colonial era in the early 18th century.  In the heart of arid and rocky mountains in north-east Minas Gerais, the Historic Center of Diamantina rises 150m up the side of a steep valley, with winding and uneven streets following the natural topography. The Baroque architecture differs from that of other Brazilian towns in being of wood, and is distinguished by its geometry and details indicating transference on a modest scale of Portuguese architectural features. Churches have similar colours and textures as civil buildings, and most have only one tower.

Unesco: Historic Centre of the Town of Diamantina
Thanks a lot Silvia!
Date: March 14

From Caeté

Santuario de Nossa Senhora da Piedade, Serra da Piedade.
Serra da Piedade presents itself as a very important historical, religious, landscape and tourist landmark of Minas Gerais .The only historical building preserved today is the Chapel of Nossa Senhora da Piedade , located at the top of the mountain, and its construction was started around 1704 and completed around 1770.

Thanks so much Silvia for another beautiful view!
Swap: Dec 2

Fumaça Falls

Fumaça Falls, situated in Carrancas River, 7 km from the city.
Its name comes from the "smoke" that comes out of its waters as it falls hard on the stones.
Carrancas stands out for its natural beauties as there are over 90 waterfalls, which form wells and natural pools.

Thanks a lot Silvia for the swap!
Swap: Dec 2