File number: brjd0283

© South American Pictures/ Jason Howe

Brazil: Minas Gerais state: Ouro Preto is an old colonial mining town and World Heritage site. It came into being as gold was found in the area in the late 17th century, and was the capital of the state of Minas from 1823 to 1897, when it was replaced by Belo Horizonte. Most of the churches were built in the second half of the 18th century, and its famous School of Minas, housed in the old governor's palace, was founded in 1876.