The focus of our study was on the artistic legacy of the Portuguese preserved in the magnificent religious and domestic colonial architecture of São João del-Rei, Ouro Prêto, Mariana, Tiradentes and Congonhas do Campo.  We studied the works of internationally recognized artists such as Antônio Francisco Lisboa (O Aleijadinho), Manuel Francisco Lisboa, Francisco de Lima Cerqueira, Manuel da Costa Athayde, Antônio Pereira de Souza, José Pereira Arouca, among many others.

Our first stop was in the city of Mariana, the oldest city in today’s state of Minas Gerais, founded during the last decades of the seventeenth century.  It was also the first religious and administrative centers of Minas Gerais.  The early gold mining exploration continues until today. The baroque churches of the San Peter of the Clerics, the Third Orders of the Franciscans and that of the Carmelites, the Cathedral Basilica da Sé and other chapels were analyzed on location.  After a lunch of regional cuisine, we went to Ouro Prêto to spend the afternoon exploring this magnificent UNESCO World Heritage Landmark.

Ouro Prêto offers so much to see and study that we decided to focus on some of the major monuments such as the religious structures of the Third Orders of the Franciscans and that of the Carmelites, Our Lady of Rosary of the Blacks, Our Lady of Mercy and the Cathedral of Our Lady of Pilar.  We also had the opportunity to visit the Museu do Oratório which houses a comprehensive collection of mini-altars, known as oratories, used for private devotion. From Ouro Preto, we went on to the pilgrimage city of Congonhas do Campo where we viewed Aleijadinho’s famous soapstone sculptures.

The historic city of Tiradentes, surrounded by the San Joseph Mountains, is rich in baroque mansions, facades, churches and homes.  We had the opportunity to visit this city a number of times due to its close proximity to São João del-Rei.  The churches of the Trinity, Our Lady of Rosary, Our Lady of Mercy and the Cathedral of San Anthony were studied for their architecture, ceiling paintings and sculptures. Presently, the city offers a rich cultural calendar including traditional religious festivities and international film and food festivals.