Brazil: Sabara

While in Belo Horizonte, we visited yet another colonial gold town, Sabara. I almost didn't want to go, but the buses seemed rather easy and frequent. So we went and I had a revelation. One of the churches, Church of Our Lady of the Rosary of Black Men (Igreja Matriz de Nossa Senhora do Rosário dos Homens Pretos), sits unfinished at the top of Praca Santa Rita. The sign read something like: Construction started in 1768, interrupted several times due to lack of resources, and permanently paralyzed by the abolition of slavery 1888.



Even though this was a Black/African church, it finally dawned on me - all the churches were built mostly by slave labor. These churches afford the rare opportunity to be able to admire the creative outputs and artistic expressions of the oppressed people. I see our whole tour of Minas Gerais in a different light.

Sabara is a tidy town, welcoming to visitors. See this bus stop signage below that identifies the top sites in town.


On the walk into the historic center we passed the nicely restored, blue and white of course, Solar do Padre Correia colonial building.


The main square, Praca San Rita, with palm trees, blue benches, and freshly painted colonial buildings.






We spent almost 30 minutes in the Igreja de Nossa Senhora do Carmo, a gem of Minas Gerais colonial art with many interior carvings by Aleijadinho the master of Brazilian Baroque. The caretaker/ticket seller was the nicest guy. He pointed to the posted list of the most significant Aleijadinho works, and made sure we did not miss the stairs to the pulpit!














The Parish Church of Our Lady of the Conception contained two wooden doors with painted Chinese motifs (3rd below). Interesting!






And finally up a steep hill to Nossa Senhora do Ó (Our Lady of O) with more Chinese motifs inside - look for the pagodas around the altar - and a vaguely Chinese steeple






So long Sabara as we wait at the bus stop for the return to Belo Horizonte.