Sabará

Sabará combines a historic centre with lively religious traditions and natural spots for short walks. The city’s history takes many forms among its churches, old fountains and mansions. Festivals and green trails add further highlights. For families who want to discover culture and nature together, Sabará offers a range of themes to shape their stay around.

City history and sacred art

In the historic centre, 18th-century churches and old fountains stand alongside sections of Rua Pedro II, formerly known as Rua Direita. Mansions, mostly dating from the 19th century, have been preserved there. The street’s architectural ensemble is protected by the Instituto do Patrimônio Histórico e Artístico Nacional (IPHAN). The Chafariz do Kaquende has supplied Sabará with water since 1757; the Igreja Matriz de Nossa Senhora da Conceição was inaugurated in 1710 and has three naves.

The Igreja de Nossa Senhora do Ó also shapes the city’s historic character: it dates from 1717 and is considered one of the richest expressions of Baroque architecture in Minas Gerais. The Igreja de São Francisco is a stone religious building; its construction is dated to 1781 and to the late 18th and early 19th centuries. In a sacristy of the Igreja de Nossa Senhora do Rosário, the Museu de Arte Sacra houses pieces from the 17th and 18th centuries. Here, you can explore different periods and forms of religious art.

The Museu do Ouro is temporarily closed for restoration work. It is located in the former Casa de Intendência e Fundição do Ouro of Vila Real de Nossa Senhora da Conceição do Sabará. Its collection comprises 749 objects, including furniture, religious images and mining-related items from the 18th and 19th centuries. Although the museum cannot currently be visited, its history remains part of Sabará’s cultural identity. The Casa da Ópera – Teatro Municipal is considered Brazil’s second-oldest theatre.

Traditions and discoveries to share

The Festa de Nossa Senhora do Rosário is intangible cultural heritage of Sabará and one of the city’s oldest traditions. The celebrations include rosary prayers, Masses and the ringing of bells, as well as a procession and a procession carrying the image of Nossa Senhora do Rosário. These different elements give the festival both a religious and a community spirit.

Corpus Christi is also a traditional celebration in Sabará. It includes the creation of colourful sawdust carpets. For those interested in local traditions, this offers another way to experience the city’s culture alongside its historic buildings. The two festivals represent different forms of expression: religious celebrations and a procession shape the Festa de Nossa Senhora do Rosário, while the colourful carpets are part of Corpus Christi.

Walks and natural spots

The Parque Natural Municipal Chácara do Lessa combines nature with traces of mining history: it contains ruins and mining remnants from the 18th and 19th centuries. The park offers interpretive trails and short walks; from its lookout point, you can enjoy panoramic views across the region. It’s a way to combine an outing with an interest in landscape and history.

Another option for spending time surrounded by greenery is the Bosque Municipal Alfredo Machado. Its features include a cascade, short trails, a rest area and a walking path. Families can choose what to focus on, whether historic traces and panoramic views or a short visit with a walking path.

Choose your stay based on your interests

When looking for a holiday apartment or house in Sabará, you can start by considering which experiences you want to shape your stay. If churches, architectural history and religious traditions are your main interests, the city offers several specific points of interest. If you’d also like to spend time outdoors, short walks, trails and lookout points at the natural spots are among the options. This lets you choose based on the kind of trip you want, without attributing unspecified features to individual accommodations.

If you’d like to discover more destinations, you’ll also find Olhos-D'água, Senador Amaral, Pouso Alto, Extrema, Inhaúma, Iguatama, Lagoa Santa and Lagoa Da Prata here.

For the broader travel overview: Minas Gerais.