10/10 Excellent
Michael R., Curitiba, Brazil
23 August 2018
Land of Gold
If you are looking for the historic flavor of Ouro Preto in your accommodations, this is the place. The location is on the main tourist street of the city, just a block from Praça Tiradentes. Inside this 200-year-old house is the living past of a remarkable city, visible in the patina-sketched living room walls and antique furniture as old as the house itself. The pieces of furniture that aren't beautifully restored antiques are made of demolition wood, maintaining the quintessential feel of the interior. Walking along the wide-board floors and admiring the wooden ceiling panels at four meters high, you will sense the illustrious past of this golden city.
While many rentals overstate their sleeping capacity, this expansive home can easily accommodate a large group. There are ten separate beds in four bedrooms on two floors, along with three full bathrooms. The dining area has a table set for eight with plenty of plates and glasses for everyone. There is also an outdoor patio area for parties with barbecuing. Above the patio are flights of stone steps leading up the side of a hill behind the house for private access to sweeping panoramic views of the city. The kitchen, particularly the stove, could use an upgrade, although the refrigerator is new and the free bottled water is a welcome addition not available in other rentals.
Foreign travelers should be advised that while there is plenty of hot water for the three showers, like all old homes in Brazil none of the bathroom sinks or the kitchen have hot water taps. Also, Brazilian residences do not have central heating so the house can be cold during the winter.
The central location along a cobblestone street provides walking access to restaurants for that famous Minas Gerais cuisine, along with shops, a market, taxi stand, and local buses at Praça Tiradentes. The owner, Rodolfo, is extremely easy to communicate with in English or Portuguese, and when my wife and I arrived hours later than we expected and Rodolfo wasn't available, he sent his wife and daughter to meet us. They picked us up at the bus station at 10 pm and drove us to the house, treating us like prospectors who had just struck it rich in this land of gold. This residence provides a unique opportunity to experience historic Ouro Preto.
Michael R.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2018