Museu de Arte Sacra

The Museu de Arte Sacra is an art museum on the second floor of the Episcopal Palace at Pedro II Square, displaying sacred art from the 17th through 19th centuries. The exhibition spans multiple rooms with sculptures, gold works, liturgical garments, and ceremonial objects from the Archdiocese collection.

The museum arose following the expulsion of Jesuits in 1759, when their movable assets passed to the Portuguese crown and the building took on new roles. This collection preserved important religious artworks that might otherwise have been scattered or lost.

The collection reflects how sacred art was revered in this region across different periods and artistic movements. Visitors see how artistic expression and craftsmanship evolved through the centuries.

The museum sits in a colonial building easily reached from the plaza, with clear paths through its various exhibition rooms. The best time to visit is outside the hottest times of day, as the rooms have limited air conditioning.

The museum holds hollow processional saint figures known as 'santos de roca', made specifically for Holy Week processions. These portable statues show a distinctive manufacturing technique rarely found elsewhere in this form.