Sao Joao del Rei

Best of Sao Joao del Rei

São João del Rei Essentials

This collection highlights the colonial heritage of São João del Rei, a city known for its unique tradition of communicative bell-ringing. The selection features landmark Baroque and Rococo churches, including the Aleijadinho-designed Church of Saint Francis of Assisi. Visitors can explore the 19th-century Maria Fumaça steam train station, the final resting place of President Tancredo Neves, and preserved cobblestone streets like Rua Santo Antônio, which showcase the architectural evolution of Minas Gerais.

São João del Rei Essentials — Map

Ricardo André Frantz / CC BY 3.0

A

Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar

The Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar, also known as the São João del Rei Cathedral, is a Roman Catholic Marian Pontifical…

Ricardo André Frantz / CC BY 3.0

B

Church of Saint Francis of Assisi

The Church of Saint Francis of Assisi is a Catholic temple founded by the Secular Franciscan Order in the Brazilian city of São João del…

Filipo Tardim / CC BY-SA 4.0

C

São João del Rei

A 19th-century railway station serving the historic 'Maria Fumaça' steam train to Tiradentes. The site includes a railway museum documenting the history of the Estrada de Ferro Oeste de Minas.

D

Igreja de Nossa Senhora do Carmo

An 18th-century Rococo church featuring intricate stone carvings and an unfinished facade. It serves as a central landmark in the historic Largo do Carmo.

E

Museu Regional de São João del-Rei

Housed in a late 18th-century colonial mansion, this museum displays furniture, sacred art, and everyday objects illustrating the domestic and social history of Minas Gerais.

F

Igreja de Nossa Senhora das Mercês

An 18th-century church situated on a hill overlooking the historic center, featuring a neoclassical facade added during 19th-century renovations.

G

Igreja de Nossa Senhora do Rosário

One of the city's oldest temples, built in 1719 by the Brotherhood of Our Lady of the Rosary of Black Men. It features a simple colonial structure.

H

Teatro Municipal

A neoclassical performance venue inaugurated in 1893, known for its preserved interior and continued role as the city's primary cultural stage.

I

Túmulo de Tancredo Neves

The burial site of Tancredo Neves, the first civilian president elected after Brazil's military rule, located in the cemetery behind the Church of Saint Francis of Assisi.

J

Rua Santo Antônio

A narrow colonial street lined with 18th-century houses, frequently called 'Rua das Casas Tortas' due to the leaning appearance of its historic facades.

Other Lists

Historic Churches Federal University of São João del-Rei Nature & Parks