Ouro Fino: Culture, Faith and Nature

Several different themes come together on a trip to Ouro Fino: sacred culture and the Menino da Porteira monument in town, the traditional dish Virado de Frango, and nature and pilgrimage themes in the municipality. For planning purposes, it is helpful to distinguish destinations in town from those elsewhere in the municipality.

Sacred culture and sights in town

The Igreja Matriz de São Francisco de Paula is one of the main attractions on Ouro Fino’s tourist route. It houses the Museu de Arte Sacra, the only museum of sacred art in southern Minas Gerais. The church and museum together form a central point of interest for travelers interested in sacred art and religious culture.

On May 13, 2007, the Matriz de São Francisco de Paula was elevated to the status of Santuário São Francisco de Paula e N. S. de Fátima. Pilgrims and other visitors come to the Santuário to pray before images of São Francisco de Paula or Our Lady. The religious theme thus encompasses both the museum of sacred art and the practice of prayer at the Santuário.

The Menino da Porteira monument offers a different focus: the concrete sculpture in Ouro Fino is ten meters high and sixteen meters long, and weighs ten tons. Unlike the church and museum, the focus here is a single monument with clearly stated dimensions.

Landscape and pilgrimage route in the municipality

Cachoeira do Tabuão is located in Bairro do Tabuão, in the district of Crisólia. Several cascades stretch over an approximate length of 900 meters. The waterfall is therefore a specific landscape attraction alongside the cultural sites in town.

The Caminho da Prece is a 71-kilometer pilgrimage route. It passes through rural areas of the municipality of Ouro Fino, not through the town itself. This geographic distinction helps set the pilgrimage route apart from sights in the urban area.

Ecotourism is also one of the themes in the municipality. Natural landscapes featuring waterfalls, rivers and Pedra do Itaguaçú provide opportunities for related activities, including hiking trails, horseback rides and excursions. While the Caminho da Prece is a specific pilgrimage route, these opportunities encompass different types of activities.

Virado de Frango: a local culinary heritage

Virado de Frango is a traditional dish from Ouro Fino and is recognized as intangible cultural heritage of the municipality of Ouro Fino in the state of Minas Gerais. It is prepared with free-range chicken and cornmeal; the cornmeal comes from a stone mill.

This recognition identifies the dish as a municipal tradition, while its ingredients and the stone mill point to its specific culinary character. For travelers who want to include local food culture in their plans, Virado de Frango is a distinctive cultural point of interest.

Find hotels in Ouro Fino that suit your travel theme

When looking for a hotel in Ouro Fino, a good place to start is the geographic focus of your trip: do you mainly want to plan visits to places in town, or also include destinations elsewhere in the municipality?

Discover more destinations: São José da Barra, Sapucaí-Mirim, Brumadinho, Betim, Nova Lima, Pimenta, Piumhi, Santa Rita Do Sapucaí

For the broader travel overview: Minas Gerais.