Wooden boxes
In a horseshoe.
Túllio F — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Túllio F — CC BY-SA 4.0 · gite_le_paradis — CC BY 3.0 · Túllio F — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Túllio F — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Cecioka — CC BY-SA 4.0
Ouro Preto's Municipal Theatre, once known as the «Opera House of Vila Rica», was built in 1769–1770 in the Baroque style and is considered the oldest theatre in the Americas, listed as Brazilian cultural heritage. It was built by João de Souza Lisboa, one of the richest merchants of Vila Rica, as Ouro Preto was called in the gold-rush era. The merchant's letters suggest the building was a kind of patronage imposed by the Portuguese Crown or its local representatives in return for concessions: theatres were built with private money and leased to impresarios who ran their programmes under rules set by the authorities. Even so, Souza Lisboa took a keen part in running his theatre, writing to agents in Lisbon in search of scores, new plays and performers. The auditorium is small and intimate, with wooden boxes arranged in a horseshoe, and it still hosts plays, music and festivals, among them Ouro Preto's theatre festival. Daytime visiting hours are not fixed, so ask locally or catch an evening performance on the programme.
In a horseshoe.
In the oldest theatre.
Vila Rica.
Rua Brigadeiro Musqueira 104, Ouro Preto
Inconfidência MuseumThe Inconfidência Museum is Ouro Preto's leading museum, in the old government b2 minutes walk4.6
Historic Town of Ouro PretoOuro Preto, Black Gold, is a colonial mining town in the mountains of Minas Gera2 minutes walk4.9
Palácio dos Governadores (Ouro Preto)The Governors' Palace stands on Praça Tiradentes in the heart of historic Ouro P2 minutes walk4.6
Casa dos Contos MuseumCasa dos Contos, the House of Accounts, is the finest colonial house in Ouro Pre2 minutes walk4.9
Church of São Francisco de AssisThe Church of São Francisco de Assis is one of the best-known buildings of Brazi3 minutes walk4.9Ouro Preto's Municipal Theatre, the «Casa da Ópera», built in 1769–1770.