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Ouro Preto City Tour
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The cultural city
Ouro Preto is one of Brazil's most important cultural centers.
The main reasons for this reputation are the city's history, the Winter Festival, the institutes of learning and research, and the quaint cobblestone streets whre principal commemorative events take place.
Architecture
The patrimony of the colonial period is unique, and is considered one of the best preserved and most homogeneous of Baroque examples in the entire world by art historians.
More than 3,000 buildins are under preservation orders because they date fro the early 1700's to the 20th century, and reflect Baroque, Rococo, Neo-Classic, and Eclectic characteristics.
Folk handicrafts, the plastic arts and music
Ouro Pretanos are artisans, masters of works in soapstone, as well as in goldsmithing, gemstone lapidation and mounting, and wood carving.
You will find a diverse market which includes works in pen and ink, sculptures, paintings, hand woven items such as baskets and rugs, engravings, and more.
The musical tradition of Ouro Preto goes back to 18th century.
It is known that the quality of the music produced during this period, whether religious or secular, was comparable to that of Europe.
Today, there are at least six professional bands with up to thirty musicians in each wich have inherited this tradition.
They play M.P.B (Popular Brazilian Music), and can be sen performing in the streets at practically all scheduled festivals.
The Winter Festival
The Federal University of Minas Gerais has presented the Winter Festival, one of the major undertakings by any university in Brazil, for more than twenty-five years.
The Festival promotes artistic activity, in general, offering much to the public, with recitals, concerts, exhibitions, speeches, dance shows, theater, cinema, and much more.
The Festival is for the general public and offers more than fifty workshops in the arts from which you can choose.
The Winter Festival covers the entire month of July and is today co-organized with the Federal University of Ouro Preto and the Town Hall of Ouro Preto.
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Museums