18km (11 miles) E of Ouro Preto
Unlike Ouro Preto, Mariana is not a perfectly preserved historic town but rather a town with a perfectly preserved historic section. Unlike its larger neighbor, Mariana also still has active mining on the outskirts of the city. The historic part of Mariana makes a pleasant half-day trip from Ouro Preto. The monuments, museums, and churches can be seen in a few hours, and the trip by bus is only 30 minutes.
