Catedral Metropolitana
The history of the Metropolitan Cathedral begins in 1675, when the bandeirante Francisco Dias Velho, founder of the village of Nossa Senhora do Desterro, began the construction of a chapel in honor of the patron saint. As usual at the time, he chose the highest and most visible place in the small village. In the mid-18th century, the chapel became too small for the number of faithful attending masses. This led José da Silva Paes, first governor of the old Captaincy, to design a new Church for the same location. Begun in 1748, the work was completed 25 years later, under the government of Dom José de Melo Manoel.
Since then, the Matrix has undergone several expansions and modifications that have made the architectural complex lose its original shape, resulting in the widening of the walls laterally and the placement of a neoclassical style porch, replacing the old main entrance door.
