I think that Ouro Preto has got all the characteristics of an outstanding cultural World Heritage site: it contains architecture and artwork of high aesthetic value; its buildings, roads, and other colonial infrastructure are well preserved and conserved; and it is a setting of important historical events in the country, particularly the Brazilian independence movement. Schoolchildren are taught about its historical significance and many visit as part of their school trips. Additionally, this former center of gold mining enjoys a status of being a popular tourist destination among locals, as Rafabram attests.

I spent two and a half days in Ouro Preto in September 2022. As of Feb 2023, Passaro Verde bus company runs 12 departures per day from Belo Horizonte (2-3 hours). As in previous reviews, visitors must be wary of the town’s terrain and the steep roads could be physically challenging for some. The town is divided into parishes, and one may organize their itinerary by using the churches as the focal point and strolling around the surrounding streets from there. Areas that I have visited are as follows:

1. Praça Tiradentes – the main public square of the town that is surrounded by beautiful buildings. Notable of these buildings is the Museu da Inconfidência, which provides visitors a background to the history of the town. On the other side of the plaza is Museu de Ciência e Técnica da Escola de Minas, which mostly houses natural history, mineralogy, mining collections.
2. Antônio Dias Parish – an area to the east of Praça Tiradentes. The exquisite Igreja de São Francisco de Assis exhibits Aleijandinho’s artistic genius and it’s criminal not to visit this church. The imposing Igreja Matriz de Nossa Senhora da Conceição and the historic Casa de Tomás Antônio Gonzaga are worth a visit as well.   
3. Pilar Parish - an area to the west of Praça Tiradentes where the Igreja Matriz de Nossa Senhora do Pilar is located.
4. Rua Conde de Bobadela – a street to the west of Praça Tiradentes where visitors can shop, eat, and drink.
5. Morro São Sebastião – a rather unkempt viewing platform that offers magnificent panoramic views of the town.

Overall, Ouro Preto is an enjoyable town to visit and a great place to learn about Brazil’s colonial history and see some of the finest Baroque architecture in the country. Moreover, the town is an ideal base to explore the charming colonial town of Mariana and the sleepy cobbled village of Lavras Novas.