Church of Our Lady of the Rosary, Baroque church in Ouro Preto, Brazil
The Church of Our Lady of the Rosary is a baroque building in Ouro Preto with an oval-shaped interior and elliptical floor plan contained within stone walls. Six side altars divide the nave, creating distinct zones throughout the sacred space.
A brotherhood established this church in 1715 as a gathering place for its community. Construction of the building itself took place later, being completed in the early 1820s.
The interior holds saint statues connected to African-Brazilian devotion, including Saint Benedict and Saint Iphigenia, who held special meaning for enslaved people. These figures make the sacred space a place where visitors encounter spiritual traditions rooted in the community's lived experience.
Visitors can enter from Tuesday to Sunday between 1:00 PM and 4:45 PM with no entrance fee. A Sunday mass takes place at 4:00 PM, offering a chance to see the space in use during worship.
The building incorporates multiple overlapping circles in its design, setting it apart from traditional rectangular colonial churches. This unusual geometric approach with oval and elliptical shapes creates a visual presence that stands out among typical church structures.
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