Editor Pick Museu de Arte Sacra
- May 18, 2025
- Rated 4 of 5 by
ohyeah from Sao Paulo
The Museu de Arte Sacra houses one of the most extensive and important collections of religious art in Brazil. The earliest piece dates back to the 16th century, though most of the collection is from the 17th and 18th centuries. The numerous saints, altars, reliquaries, silver, and jewels have been collected from around Brazil, and many of the pieces were originally brought from Europe. The collection is housed in São Paulo's only intact colonial building. In one room, the walls have been left exposed, revealing the building’s wood-and-mud structure. You’ll realize why the walls all had to be so thick! After you’ve seen the main collection, you’ll be directed to the Presépio exhibit, which houses Latin American and European nativity scenes of all shapes and colors. The definite highlight of the exhibit, and perhaps of the entire museum, is the huge nativity scene from Naples. The village montage, which contains hundreds of incredibly detailed and life-like human and animal figurines, depicts a medieval scene in Italy. You could easily spend hours studying the villagers. The scene is mounted near the entrance of the Presépio exhibit, to the left, before you go down the stairs (it’s a little hidden, so make sure not to miss it). Also, make sure to take a peek inside the museum’s adjoining chapel. Cloistered nuns still live on the grounds, so you might be able to hear them singing from behind the wooden screens up above. This chapel was built by a friar who, although not a saint, has a following of worshippers who leave slips of paper bearing prayers and requests at his gravestone (which is located near the front of the chapel). A visit to the Museu de Arte Sacra can easily be incorporated into a downtown-tour itinerary--it is next to the Tiradentes metro stop, and is within walking distance of the lovely Luz park, the Pinacoteca do Estado (the state gallery), and Estação da Luz (a beautifully renovated train station built by the British).
From journal São Paulo - The Ultimate Urban Experience