At the height of the gold and diamond boom in the mid 18th century, Ouro Prêto, or Black Gold, was the richest town in South America and the capital of Minas Gerais state. When the ore petered out, the capital was moved to Belo Horizonte and Ouro Prêto settled into a long snooze. Now it is a gem of colonial architecture, a university town and as yet, not over-ridden by tourists.
Easily reached from Belo Horizonte, Ouro Prêto is one of Brazil's cidades históricas, a UNESCO world heritage site, and a glimpse into the past.
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