The baroque streets of Ouro Preto run amok during Carnival. Street revelries have taken a unique twist in the most famous colonial town in Minas Gerais: the city's many repúblicas, or university student co-ops, rule.
Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto alone, which was founded in 1969 from the merging of two pre-existing schools, has 49 repúblicas in town. Add to that the private co-ops and you have hundreds of places where party-loving people eagerly take to the streets in blocos during Carnival.
Ouro Preto Blocos
Not all blocos in Ouro Preto belong to student co-ops. For example, Bandalheira Folclórica Ouro-Pretana (BAFO), whose acronym forms the Portuguese word for "bad breath", and whose participants parade wearing a chamber pot for a hat, doesn't.
Neither does Zé Pereira Clube dos Lacaios, formed in the late nineteenth century and named for valets from the local governor's palace.
But the best known blocos belong to co-ops, such as Do Caixão, or the Coffin Bloco, formed by residents at República Necrotério ("The Morgue"). One of the most traditional co-ops in town, Necrotério turned 50 in 2008.
Staying at a República
Sleeping on a mattress on the floor, having access to unlimited amounts of beer (bebida liberada) and wearing an abadá, or Carnival "uniform", while dancing and walking around with your newly acquired, Brazilian frat house/sorority-style buddies are some of the experiences you'll share if you decide to stay at a república during Carnival in Ouro Preto.
Ouro Preto Carnival 2009
Several co-ops feature Carnival packages on their websites. Most of the websites are available only in Portuguese, though (and a few might feature exceeded bandwidth messages, so be patient). But you're likely to find someone who speaks at least a little broken English as you make your contacts.
Below is a list with a few co-ops whose websites have Carnival 2009 information, or at least 2008 photos - which probably means they have plans for Carnival 2009.
The list includes some of the co-ops with the most famous blocos, such as Calamidade Pública, Nau Sem Rumo, Necrotério and Saideira. E-mail them and ask about Carnival packages. Some packages have better meals than others. Don't expect linens for your mattress - one of the websites says, "We're a república, not a hotel."
Men's Co-ops:
- Calamidade Pública
- Cosa Nostra
- Masmorra
- Mata Virgem
- Necrotério
- Nau Sem Rumo
- Notre Dame
- Pif-Paf
- Reino de Baco
- Taranóia
Women's Co-Ops:
You can also check the UFOP list of repúblicas. Another list of federal and private repúblicas is available on Repúblicas de Ouro Preto.
Ouro Preto Carnival photos by ltduarte on Flickr
