Founded at the end of the 17th century, Vila Rica do Ouro Preto (Black Gold) was the focal point of the gold rush and Brazil's golden age in the 18th century.

It is a former colonial mining town situated in the Serra do Espinhaço mountains of the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. The site has been designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

Its colonial architecture is all preserved, with little signs of modern urban life. Churches decorated with gold and the works of Aleijadinho make Ouro Preto a popular tourist destination.

In 1789, Vila Rica was the starting point of the Inconfidência Mineira , a failed attempt to break from Portugal and to form a Brazilian republic.

Ouro Preto was capital of the state of Minas Gerais from 1822 until 1897, when the government moved to the new and planned city of Belo Horizonte.