Historic Town of Ouro Preto
Founded at the end of the 17th century, Ouro Preto (Black Gold) was the focal point of the gold rush and Brazil’s golden age in the 18th century. With the exhaustion of the gold mines in the 19th century, the city’s influence declined but many churches, bridges and fountains remain as a testimony to its past prosperity and the exceptional talent of the Baroque sculptor Aleijadinho.
http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/124
Historic Town of Ouro Preto is a unique representation of baroque architecture in a homogenous cityscape.
The city's wealth has its origins in the late 17th century. At this period expeditions to the interior of Brazil started, in search of minerals. This became succesfull in what now is the state of Minais Gerais: in 1693 gold was discovered here.
The exploration for gold was a monopoly of the Portuguese crown. They taxed 20% on the findings. A heavy system for collecting the tributes and taxes was in places. Of course the miners didn't like that, so an uprising took place in 1789. It was put down, and its leader Tiradentes was cut in pieces - his head was displayed on the main square of Ouro Preto.
Small settlements of miners in search for El Dorado were joined in 1711 to create the city of Villa Rica (later renamed to Ouro Preto, 'Black Gold'). The settlers were divided in two parishes and in ethnic groups. Each group constructed its own church, bringing in baroque artisans.
At the height of its Golden Age, Ouro Preto had some 110.000 inhabitants (mainly slaves). The city was left to itself in 1897, when the state capital moved to Belo Horizonte.
http://www.worldheritagesite.org/sites/ouropreto.html
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