The Prophets of Congonhas are a group of twelve soapstone sculptures created by the sculptor Antônio Francisco Lisboa, known as Aleijadinho, for the churchyard of the Sanctuary of Bom Jesus de Matosinhos in Congonhas, Minas Gerais, a stop that Mundo a Passeio includes in cultural itineraries departing from Porto Alegre.
Who was Aleijadinho?
Aleijadinho is the historical nickname of Antônio Francisco Lisboa, a sculptor and architect born in Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, on a date historians still debate, between 1730 and 1738. He is considered one of the greatest names of Brazilian Baroque. The son of a Portuguese man and an enslaved woman, he learned the trade of sculptor and architect by watching the work of his father, who was also a construction professional, and over his lifetime developed a style of his own within the colonial Baroque tradition.
The nickname came from an illness that, already in the adult phase of his career, affected his movements and the mobility of his hands. It did not stop him from continuing to produce works in wood and soapstone with the help of assistants who worked under his artistic direction.
What are the Prophets of Congonhas?
The Prophets of Congonhas are twelve statues carved in soapstone between 1800 and 1805, representing biblical prophets such as Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Daniel, arranged along the churchyard and stairways of the Sanctuary of Bom Jesus de Matosinhos, in Congonhas. Each statue has a distinct pose and expression, worked with a level of detail that has become a reference point for Brazilian colonial sculpture.
The group is considered one of the masterpieces of Minas Gerais Baroque and, together with the sanctuary, was declared World Heritage by UNESCO in 1985, which strengthened the international recognition of Aleijadinho's work.
Where is Congonhas?
Congonhas is a municipality in the state of Minas Gerais, in the central region of the state, close to Ouro Preto. The town developed around the Sanctuary of Bom Jesus de Matosinhos, which includes, besides the Prophets, six chapels with scenes from the Passos da Paixão de Cristo (the Stations of the Passion of Christ), also sculpted under the direction of Aleijadinho over years of continuous work.
Its proximity to other historic towns in Minas Gerais, such as Ouro Preto and Tiradentes, makes Congonhas a frequent destination on itineraries that bring together different examples of colonial sacred art in the same region.
What else is there to see in Congonhas besides the Prophets?
Besides the Prophets, the Sanctuary of Bom Jesus de Matosinhos in Congonhas includes the Passos chapels, with polychrome wood sculptures depicting episodes from the Passion of Christ, spread along the path that climbs to the main churchyard. Each chapel represents a distinct scene, together forming a complete visual narrative of the Christian tradition of the Via Sacra (Way of the Cross).
The town also has a museum and a reference centre dedicated to the work of Aleijadinho, open to the public, as well as the interior of the church itself, with Baroque carved woodwork that complements the outdoor sculptural group.
How does Congonhas fit into a Mundo a Passeio caravan?
Congonhas usually features in caravans organised by Mundo a Passeio, departing from Porto Alegre, as part of an itinerary that brings together historic towns in Minas Gerais linked to sacred art and colonial heritage, often combined with Ouro Preto and Tiradentes on the same route. This combination of towns allows travellers to follow different phases and styles of Aleijadinho's artistic output on a single trip.
The order of the towns visited and the time spent in each vary according to the trip and should be confirmed on WhatsApp before the booking is confirmed.
Why are the Prophets of Congonhas considered so important?
The Prophets of Congonhas are considered important because they bring together, in a single open-air group, the peak of Aleijadinho's sculptural output, created when his illness was already advanced, which shows that his artistic work continued despite the physical limitations he faced in the last years of his career. The work is studied by art historians in Brazil and abroad as a major example of colonial Baroque produced outside Europe.
Exposure to the open air for more than two centuries has also made the group the subject of restoration projects carried out over time, which helps to preserve the original details of the sculptures for future generations of visitors.
How long does it take to visit the Sanctuary of Bom Jesus de Matosinhos?
A full visit to the Sanctuary of Bom Jesus de Matosinhos, including the churchyard with the Prophets, the six Passos chapels and the interior of the church, usually takes up a significant part of a day period, as the complex involves walking on uneven ground between its different parts. The pace of the visit may vary depending on the group's interest in the historical and artistic details presented along the way.
Travellers on a caravan usually have the visit led with guided explanations about Aleijadinho's work and the history of the sanctuary, which helps to make better use of the time available in the town within the contracted itinerary.
See also Ouro Preto: what to see in one day, Tiradentes, MG: what to see and more itineraries at /blog.
Cover photograph: Twelve Prophets of Aleijadinho, in Congonhas, by Rkieferbaum, CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, via Wikimedia Commons, image resized (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Doze_profetas_de_Aleijadinho_-_Congonhas_-_20260112173137.jpg).
