The Pantheon
Resting place of the movement.
EricaAzzellini — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Luidy Félix — CC BY-SA 4.0 · EricaAzzellini — CC BY-SA 4.0
The Inconfidência Museum is Ouro Preto's leading museum, in the old government building facing the statue of Tiradentes on the main square. It was the Town Hall and Jail of Vila Rica, begun in 1785 on the Portuguese governor's orders and used as a prison until 1937, and it is one of the most important surviving works of late baroque architecture in Brazil. The museum keeps the memory of the Inconfidência Mineira, the movement that sought independence for Minas Gerais from Portugal in 1789; it was uncovered before it began, most of its members were exiled to Africa, and its leader Tiradentes was executed in Rio de Janeiro in 1792. The museum holds the Pantheon of the Inconfidência, the hall to which the members' remains were brought in 1942. Beyond that, it paints a broad picture of Minas society and art in the age of gold and diamonds: furniture, everyday objects and paintings, and sculptures by Aleijadinho and paintings by Ataíde. Entry is free.
Resting place of the movement.
Aleijadinho and Ataíde.
Facing Praça Tiradentes.
Praça Tiradentes 139, central Ouro Preto
Historic Town of Ouro PretoOuro Preto, Black Gold, is a colonial mining town in the mountains of Minas Gera1 minute walk4.9
Church of São Francisco de AssisThe Church of São Francisco de Assis is one of the best-known buildings of Brazi1 minute walk4.9
Casa dos Contos MuseumCasa dos Contos, the House of Accounts, is the finest colonial house in Ouro Pre4 minutes walk4.9Yes, entry is free. It opens Tuesday to Saturday, until 18:00 or 20:00 depending on the day, and is closed on Mondays.