Catedral de NS do Pilar

Minas Gerais


Begun in 1721, São João's cathedral has exuberant gold altars and fine Portuguese tiles. Two of the city's famous orchestras can be heard here at the 7pm Mass: on Wednesday it's the Lira Sanjoanense orchestra, and on Thursday and Friday it's the Ribeiro Bastos orchestra.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Minas Gerais attractions

1. Museu de Arte Sacra

0.05 MILES

In a building that served as the public jail between 1737 and 1850, this museum has a small but impressive collection of art from the city’s churches.

2. Museu Regional São João del Rei

0.07 MILES

One of the best regional museums in Minas Gerais, this 19th-century colonial mansion houses three floors of antique furniture, sacred art and assorted…

3. Igreja de NS do Rosário

0.11 MILES

This simple church was built in 1719 to honor the patron saint who was protector of the slaves.

4. Igreja de NS do Carmo

0.15 MILES

This 18th-century church, dominating a lovely triangular praça (plaza), was designed by Aleijadinho, who also did the frontispiece and the sculpture…

5. Igreja de São Francisco de Assis

0.28 MILES

This exquisite 1774 baroque church, fronted by a palm-shaded, lyre-shaped plaza, is home to two Aleijadinho sculptures (second altar to the left) and one…

6. Museu Ferroviário

0.31 MILES

The history of the Maria-Fumaça, one of Brazil's first rail lines, is on display at the Museu Ferroviário inside São João's train station. The museum's…

7. Igreja Matriz de Santo Antônio

5.65 MILES

Named for Tiradentes' patron saint, this gorgeous church is one of Aleijadinho's last designs. The dazzling gold interior is rich in Old Testament…

8. Museu Liturgia

5.71 MILES

Spanning three centuries, this museum's collection includes vestments, ex votos and hundreds of other historical liturgical objects from Tiradentes'…