Museu de Arte Sacra

Belém


Closed indefinitely for renovations when we last passed by, this museum, once it reopens, has two parts: the impressive Igreja do Santo Alexandre and the adjoining Palâcio Episcopal (Bishop’s Palace). Santo Alexandre was Belém’s first church, founded by Jesuits in the early 17th century, and contains incredible cedar and plaster detailing. The rambling Bishop’s Palace has a decent collection of modern art, though is frequently closed for events or maintenance.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Belém attractions

1. Museo do Círio

0.06 MILES

The many idiosyncrasies of Belém’s famous religious festival, the Círio de Nazaré, are explained in this handsome museum, from the discovery of a tiny…

2. Forte do Presépio

0.06 MILES

The city of Belém was founded in 1616 with the construction of this imposing fort, which was intended to protect Portuguese interests upriver from…

3. Catedral da Sé

0.07 MILES

After years of slow, sad decline, Belém’s historic cathedral is once again radiant, thanks to a major renovation. The exterior gleams a brilliant white,…

4. Casa das Onze Janelas

0.07 MILES

Once the home of a sugar baron, then a military hospital, the Casa das Onze Janelas now houses an excellent gallery of modern art. The first and second…

5. Museu do Estado do Pará

0.13 MILES

The State Museum of Pará is housed in the grand Palácio Lauro Sodré, originally the residence of Portugal’s royal representatives in Belém and later home…

6. Palácio Antonio Lemos & MABE

0.17 MILES

This rubber-boom palace served as city hall in the late 1800s, and its 2nd floor now houses the Museu de Arte de Belém. The museum has gorgeous wood…

7. Mercado Ver-o-Peso

0.26 MILES

The name of this waterfront market, with its iconic four-turreted structure at its southwestern end, comes from colonial times, when the Portuguese would…

8. Estação das Docas

0.54 MILES

An ambitious renovation project converted three down-at-heel riverfront warehouses into a popular gathering spot, with restaurants, bars, shops and even…