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Ouro Preto | Mina du Veloso
Welcome to Ouro Preto, a UNESCO World Heritage town in Minas Gerais, Brazil, known for its historic gold extraction and Baroque architecture. Join our tour of Mina du Veloso to explore the town's lesser-known narrative of the Afro-Brazilian Community and their significant contributions. -
Stop 1. São Cristovão neighborhood
Mina du Veloso is located in the São Cristóvão neighborhood of Ouro Preto. This area is defined by its steep streets and compact houses perched on the hillside. The mix of old and new buildings gives the neighborhood a unique vibe, with old mine entrances right in people's backyards. -
Stop 2. Mina Du Veloso's Cultural Center
Mina Du Veloso, now a cultural center, offers a glimpse into the harsh realities of colonial-era gold mining. The site allows visitors to explore underground tunnels and learn about its historical and cultural significance. -
Stop 3. The Courtyard
The visitor center has a courtyard with cobblestone floors, sharing Mina du Veloso's history through maps, panels, and cultural artifacts—an homage to Afro-Brazilian legacy. -
Stop 4. Cultural Riches Beyond Enslavement
The courtyard displays three berimbaus, key to Capoeira—a dance-fighting form rooted in African traditions. Originating from enslaved practices, Capoeira evolved into a social activity. These objects embody Mina du Veloso's mission to revive and share the culture of the black community, -
Stop 5. Step inside the mines
The mines have over 400 meters of linked galleries, including a main channel extending approximately 192 meters. Water flows across the main gallery floor, sometimes causing flooding. -
Stop 6. A typical day at the mine
Miners faced tough days starting before dawn, extracting resources in harsh conditions. Some opened paths in galleries, others managed transport, crushing, refining, and logistics. -
Stop 7. Climate change challenges
Ouro Preto, with its historic mines like Mina Du Veloso, faces heightened climate change impacts. The town's hilly terrain, coupled with increased rainfall, raises risks of landslides and erosion, threatening both the community and historical sites. -
Stop 8. Ouro Preto's legacy
Ouro Preto's prosperity, rooted in African enslaved communities' ingenuity in gold extraction, is reflected in iconic Baroque architecture. Despite limited built heritage sites for descendants, the mines serve as tangible reminders of their contributions, highlighting the need to recognize their essential role in shaping the city's history.
Voices
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Eduardo Evangelista
Owner of Mina du Veloso
Eduardo Evangelista, a civil engineer with a master's in geosciences, is the driving force behind Mina du Veloso. Raised amidst the mines of São Cristóvão, he has redefined the historical narrative of Black individuals in Ouro Preto. In 2009, Eduardo purchased and revitalized Mina du Veloso, transforming it into a key site for educating visitors about the city's rich Black history. -
Sidnéa dos Santos
Historian
Sidnéa dos Santos is a a member of the community and a local historian, holding a postgraduate degree in Baroque Culture and Art from the University of Ouro Preto. Currently pursuing a Master's in History at the same institution, Sidnéa is a devoted researcher specializing in Afro-Brazilian and African cultures. -
Cesar Barella
Professor at the University of Ouro Preto
Cesar Barella is an environmental and geotechnical engineer, currently teaching at the Federal University of Ouro Preto. He actively contributed to the development of the Municipal Plan for Risk Reduction in Ouro Preto, delivered in 2023. This comprehensive plan mapped geological and hydrological risk areas, providing crucial guidance to the public administration for effective disaster prevention measures.
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About the Project
Nestled in the heart of Minas Gerais, Brazil, Ouro Preto's captivating story unfolds around Mina du Veloso, an 18th-century gold mine. Discover the hidden chapters of the Afro-Brazilian community, an integral part of the city's rich narrative. Traverse the linked galleries, where the miners' stories echo through time, and witness the architectural marvels born from Ouro Preto's golden era. The tour also prompts reflection on the impact of climate change, underscoring the need to safeguard this unique history.
Related Links
Credits
This tour was possible thanks to the support of Iron Mountain.
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