The carved façade
In soapstone.
Sarah and Iain — CC BY 2.0 · Rodrigo Tetsuo Argenton — Public domain · Leone Melo — CC BY-SA 4.0 · EricaAzzellini — CC BY-SA 4.0
The Church of São Francisco de Assis is one of the best-known buildings of Brazil's colonial era and one of the greatest works of Aleijadinho, the sculptor and architect who became the emblem of baroque in Minas Gerais. Aleijadinho designed its façade and decoration and carved much of it himself, and Mestre Ataíde, the most celebrated painter of colonial Brazil, painted the nave ceiling, his most famous work. Work began around 1766 for the Third Order of Saint Francis; the roof was on by 1774 and the building finished in 1794. Its façade is marked by two round towers and a portal carved in soapstone, the soft grey stone the region is known for. In 2009 it was chosen as one of the Seven Wonders of Portuguese Origin in the World. It stands on a small square that hosts a market of soapstone crafts, and the façade can be seen from the square for free. The ticket also covers the Aleijadinho Museum and other churches of the same parish.
In soapstone.
A rare design.
On the square.
Largo de Coimbra, central Ouro Preto
Inconfidência MuseumThe Inconfidência Museum is Ouro Preto's leading museum, in the old government b1 minute walk4.6
Historic Town of Ouro PretoOuro Preto, Black Gold, is a colonial mining town in the mountains of Minas Gera2 minutes walk4.9
Casa dos Contos MuseumCasa dos Contos, the House of Accounts, is the finest colonial house in Ouro Pre6 minutes walk4.9The R$10 ticket also covers the Aleijadinho Museum and other parish churches; the façade can be seen free from the square.