Igreja Matriz de Nossa Senhora do Pilar, Baroque church and sacred art museum in Ouro Preto, Brazil
Igreja Matriz de Nossa Senhora do Pilar is a parish church and basilica in Ouro Preto that follows the baroque building tradition of Portugal. Its interior displays extensive carvings in gilded wood, multiple altars and an octagonal arrangement around the central nave.
Work began between 1731 and 1733 on the site of an earlier wooden chapel. The building became the official church for ceremonial occasions of governors in the region.
The Sacred Art Museum inside the church preserves 8,000 artifacts from the 17th to 19th centuries, including religious garments and ceremonial objects.
The building opens daily from half past eight in the morning until five in the afternoon and also houses a museum of sacred art with guided tours. Visitors can view the gilded interiors and the liturgical collections during opening hours.
Building work began with the nave instead of the chapel, so that services could continue during construction. This departure from the usual procedure allowed continuous use for religious purposes.
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