Museum of Sacred Art, Sao Paulo

The Museum of Sacred Art, located in the Nossa Senhora da Luz Convent, houses over 11,000 religious items that date back as far as the 16th century to present times. Many of the objects are items rescued from the former Basilica de Sao Paulo. The convent was built by Friar Galvao, the first Brazilian saint in 1744.

The exhibition hall contains an impressive and vast collection and is a must-see if you visit Sao Paulo. Wooden and clay religious icons, baroque antiques, furniture, silverware, paintings, altarpieces, sacred clothing, Russian icons, wooden and terracotta masks, jewelry, and rare religious books are some of the many items you will see when you visit. You will learn all you need to know about the history of Catholicism in Brazil as you tour the facility. An interesting side note is that the famous Friar Galvo pills, said to contain miracle properties, are made by the nuns of the nearby convent.

Two important collections the museum holds are the Numismatics Collection that contains over 9,000 pieces of coins from the colonial period and the Nativity Museum that houses 190 nativities from Brazil and the rest of the world.

Why You Should Visit:
If you're interested in Baroque Art, religious paintings, and unusual/extraordinary artifacts and clothing, this is definitely the museum.
There is also a small shop where you can buy very nice souvenirs, and a beautiful garden in the center of the museum with benches to enjoy the environment.

Tip:
Once at the top level, you should not miss the terrace views of the city center and the Cathedral bell tower.