Capela de Sant’Ana

Updated June 11, 2025

## Capela de Sant’Ana in Arraial Velho, Sabará – A Quiet Corner of Baroque Minas

Capela de Sant’Ana, in the rural district of Arraial Velho in Sabará, is one of those places that tells the story of Minas Gerais in a single glance: stone walls, a modest Baroque façade, and an interior altar that’s far more elaborate than you’d expect from such a small village chapel. It’s a compact stop, but for anyone interested in colonial history, sacred art, or the Estrada Real routes around Belo Horizonte, it’s a rewarding detour.

– Location: Rua Paracatu, 1119 – Arraial Velho, Sabará – MG, Brazil Minas Gerais
– Coordinates: approx. 19.9165° S, 43.8215° W
– Average rating: around 4.7/5 on major mapping platforms (at the time the data was pulled)
– Type: Historic Catholic chapel / tourist attraction

—

## Why Visit Capela de Sant’Ana?

If you’re spending time in Belo Horizonte or exploring the historic towns of Minas Gerais, Capela de Sant’Ana works perfectly as:

– A short cultural stop paired with a day in Sabará’s historic center.
– A chance to see an early stone-built rural church, different from the more ornate city temples.
– A quiet setting to understand how faith and mining shaped the landscape along the early gold routes.

Travelers often mention combining the chapel with trekking or light hiking in the Arraial Velho area, using the chapel as a reference point or rest stop. That fits the terrain: rolling hills, scattered farm properties, and remains of old walls and paths that once formed part of the broader Estrada Real environment.

If you’re building a full Sabará itinerary with churches, chafarizes, and museums, this is the stop that rounds out the picture of how the town started at Arraial Velho before expanding to the current center.

—

## A Short History of Arraial Velho and the Chapel

### Origins in the Gold Rush

Arraial Velho (“Old Hamlet”) is historically one of the earliest nuclei of settlement in Sabará, linked to the first gold findings and to figures such as the bandeirante Borba Gato. & Mala

– The chapel’s construction is usually dated to the mid-18th century, with many sources pointing to around 1747 as a probable date, based on stylistic and construction evidence rather than a surviving foundation document. Minas Gerais
– The bell outside carries an inscription from 1759, which fits this time frame and helps pin down its active use in the second half of the 1700s. Minas Gerais

Official heritage registers note that the chapel belonged for a long period to the freguesia (parish) of Raposos, another mining area, reinforcing how interconnected these early settlements were.

Some local narratives (without definitive documentary proof) mention the chapel and its surroundings as a possible burial place connected to Borba Gato. This appears in secondary travel material and oral history, but it is not fully confirmed by primary archival research. & Mala

—

## Architecture & Interior: Simple Outside, Baroque Inside

### Exterior: Early Stone Construction in Sabará

For Sabará, Capela de Sant’Ana marks a structural shift:

– It is one of the first local churches to use “pedra de canga” masonry for its walls instead of the earlier combination of mud/wood (taipa/adobe).
– The façade is very restrained:
– single portal with curved stone lintel,
– two choir-level windows,
– triangular gable with a small oculus and cross.

The chapel has no towers, another indication of its rural, early character. Instead, the bell sits on a wooden support in the walled forecourt (adro), which uses carefully laid stone walls – remnants that relate to the old routes that passed through the area.

### Interior: Baroque Minas in a Rural Shell

Step inside and you get a surprise:

– The interior walls are bare “pedra de canga”, left visible rather than plastered and painted. This detail is often highlighted in official descriptions as one of the chapel’s most distinctive features. Minas Gerais
– The high altar (altar-mor) belongs to the second phase of Baroque in Minas, with carving in the style associated with the reign of D. João V. Minas Gerais
– The retable (retábulo) is carved and painted in light tones, instead of the heavy gilding you see in wealthier city churches.

One of the most interesting iconographic details described by state tourism and heritage bodies is the representation of the Holy Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are shown as distinct figures, arranged so that none directly touches the other. Minas Gerais

This combination—raw stone walls, a single elegant Baroque altar, and an almost empty nave—makes the chapel very different from larger, fully gilded churches in Ouro Preto, Mariana, or even central Sabará.

—

## Visiting Capela de Sant’Ana Today

### Opening Hours & Ticket Price (Check Locally – May Be Outdated)

Different sources list slightly different ticket prices and schedules:

– State tourism portal for Minas Gerais:
– Indicates that entry is paid, with a reference price of R$ 2,00, cash only.
– Notes that visits should be scheduled in advance. Minas Gerais
– A detailed Sabará travel blog, updated in 2021, mentions:
– Visits from Tuesday to Sunday, 09:00–17:00,
– Entrance fee around R$ 5,00, cash only. & Mala
– A travel planning site repeats similar weekday opening hours (closed Sunday and Saturday in their listing), suggesting that operating times have fluctuated or been updated over time.

👉 Important: These values and hours can change due to local decisions, church events, or restoration work. The most reliable options today are:

1. Check the official Sabará tourism site or Minas Gerais tourism portal shortly before you go.
2. If you’re organizing a guided visit, ask your guide or agency to confirm the current fee and schedule with the parish or municipal tourism office.

Given the small cost involved, it’s reasonable to expect a symbolic entrance fee in cash, directly supporting maintenance.

—

## How to Get to Capela de Sant’Ana

### From Sabará’s Historic Center

Capela de Sant’Ana lies roughly 4 km from central Sabará, in the district of Arraial Velho. Minas Gerais

– By car:
– Follow local signage or mapping apps toward Arraial Velho / Rua Paracatu.
– The final approach uses smaller local roads; surfaces can vary (paved + short rough stretches), especially after heavy rain.

– By taxi or app-based ride:
– From the historic center, ride time is usually 10–15 minutes, depending on traffic.
– This is a straightforward option if you’re doing a half-day circuit of churches and don’t want to worry about parking.

If you’re planning a deeper dive into Sabará’s churches, pair this with a stroll through the center (Matriz de Nossa Senhora da Conceição, Igreja do Ó, Rosário, etc.). You can cross-reference logistics with any broader Sabará historic-center guide you maintain on your site.

> Example internal link idea: connect this article from your main Sabará historic-center piece with an in-text link like:
> “If you’re starting in the town center, see our guide to Sabará’s historic center for a walking route before heading out to Arraial Velho.”

### From Belo Horizonte

Belo Horizonte is close enough that Capela de Sant’Ana works as part of a day trip:

– Distance BH – Sabará center: roughly 20–25 km, depending on your neighborhood.
– From BH, you’ll usually:
– Take the MG-262 or connecting urban routes into Sabará.
– Then continue on local roads to Arraial Velho and Rua Paracatu.

A rental car makes it easier to link Estrada Real towns into a longer circuit (Sabará, Caeté, Ouro Preto, Mariana). If your site covers roadtrips on the Estrada Real, this chapel is a natural waypoint.

> Internal link idea: anchor this in your Estrada Real hub, for example:
> “For a bigger route that connects Sabará with Ouro Preto and Tiradentes, check our overview of the Estrada Real in Minas Gerais.”

—

## Experiences & Events

### Religious Festivities

Capela de Sant’Ana remains an active religious site. Around late July, local media and parish communications often mention the Festa de Sant’Ana, with liturgical celebrations and community events centered on the chapel and Arraial Velho.

Because date ranges, schedules, and formats change year to year, it’s best to treat any specific calendars you see online (for example, 2018 programs) as historical references, not current information.

### Time on Site

Trip-planning platforms note that visitors typically spend around two hours at the chapel and its surroundings.

That’s enough to:

– Visit the interior calmly;
– Photograph the façade, bell, and stone walls;
– Walk a little around Arraial Velho, observing old walls, farm structures, and the rural landscape that still mirrors 18th-century settlement patterns.

—

## Practical Tips for an Inclusive, Respectful Visit

– Dress & behavior: This is an active place of worship. Discreet clothing and quiet behavior in the nave are appreciated, regardless of your religious background.
– Photography:
– Exterior photography is generally fine.
– Inside, ask the caretaker or guide before using flash, especially if there are services or if you’re close to the altar and imagery.
– Accessibility:
– The chapel sits on uneven ground with stone paving and steps at the entrance, which can be challenging for visitors with reduced mobility. There is limited public information on adapted access; if this is essential for your group, contact local tourism authorities before going. Minas Gerais
– Cash only: All current sources indicate cash payment for entry. Do not rely on cards or digital wallets here. Minas Gerais
– Guided vs self-guided:
– Official tourism descriptions list both self-guided and guided visits as options. Minas Gerais
– A guide specializing in colonial Minas or the Estrada Real can add context that you won’t find on-site panels.

—

## How Capela de Sant’Ana Fits Into a Minas Route

Key Highlights

Capela de Sant’Ana

Location

Places to Stay Near Capela de Sant'Ana"Fiz um trekking do ..."

Find and Book a Tour

Explore More Travel Guides