Inconfidencia Mineira
by elsadran
At the end of the 18th century some exceptional personalities of the local community, full of passion for freedom and love for their country and inspired by the flame of the French Revolution in 1789, decided to start their own rebellion and created the "Inconfidencia Mineira" against the Portuguese. One of them was "Tiradentes", a national hero.
They planned to make up a new government and then demand their independence from the Portuguese who ruled their country and took all the riches while the people were starving. They would all fight for their cause and would establish a republic freed from the exploitation of the empire... They were finally betrayed by one of them and were thrown to prison. Some of them were sentenced to death but were not executed. Only Tiradentes was cruelly decapitated and cut to pieces....!!! His pieces were exposed around the region to intimidate his future imitators.
It was 21 of April 1792.
Aleijadinho - Brazil's Greatest Baroque Artist
by mircaskirca
Antonio Francisco Lisboa (1730 - 1814), known as Aleijadinho (Portuguese for 'Little Cripple), is Brazil's greatest baroque artist - architect, painter and sculptor - before modern times. He was born in Ouro Preto, the son of the Portuguese craftsman Manuel Francisco Lisboa and a black slave Isabel.
Growing up around the tools, artists, and architectural circles of the day, antonio also studied religion, music and Latin, all of which would find their way into his works. His racial mix excluded him not only from certain social circles but also from official recognition as a master architect and sculptor.
Around the age of 40, Aleijadinho began to suffer from a debilitating, crippling disease which grew progressively worse. He eventually lost his fingers and toes, and the use of his lower legs. Despite his physical disabilities, he was a prolific artist who created Brazil's best baroque art, known as 'Barroco Mineiro' - a distincitve art form that developed in Minas Gerais in the 18th century. This incredibly talented self-taught artist incorporated the European Baroque and Rococo traditions into his own work, with hints of the classic and gothic, and he used only native materials, like soapstone and wood.
His masterpieces are Igreja de Sao Francisco de Assis (built in 1766) in Ouro Preto, Igreja de Sao Francisco de Assis (1774) in Sao Joao del Rei and the majestic statues of the Twelve Prophets (1800 - 1805), which are symmetrically arranged on the steps and terraces leading up to the Basilica do Bom Jesus do Matozinho in Congonhas. Myth or Reality?
Because of the mysterious lack of documentation showing his participation in the works of the day and strange alterations in his birth and death records, some believe he never existed (or was nothing more than an assistant his entire life) and that a hundreds of works attributed to Aleijadinho were in fact produced by various talented artists. These disbelievers also find it incredible that a man inflicted with such a crippling disease could have been responsible for so many works attributed to him.
the Royal Trail
by pepples46
of Minas Gerais showing the wonderful old Towns of Diamantina, Ouro Preto, Sabara, Mariana and if you like I made a page about Minas Gerais. walking the trail , not all of it I must admit..but it felt special
MEETING THE CITY FACTS
by janaina
In Ouro Preto,you'll learn about the history of civilization.
Walking around the streets of this city is an adventure full of discovery.
The colonial ear gold mines are open for visitation,as well as many art galleries and the oldest Opera House in South America.
Architecture and Views
by Gwynethart
Ouro Preto is a place to wander and explore. It is very hilly, so you have to be reasonably fit to walk the steep streets. If you are not, it is easy and inexpensive enough to rent a taxi. The history and the visual beauty of this place is something that I hope I will see again.
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JumpingCLAUS,Vter cachaseiro,Ouro Prêto,Brazil2010
Inside the mine.
The bus station in Ouro Preto.
One of the many steep streets of Ouro Preto.
