This fountain in the middle of towm looks like it must have when first built--with a little wear and tear from centuries of use.
Ouro Prêto was named a national monument in 1933 and the surrounding region was made into a natioanl park. This ensured that the city's public buildings, churches, and houses would be preserved or restored.
In 1980, the city was named as an UNESCO World Heritage site, with the following citation: "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."