The Basilica Cathedral of Nossa Senhora do Pilar, also known as Mother Church of Our Lady of Pilar, is the seat of  Diocese of São João del-Rei , in  Minas Gerais ,  Brazil . It is a great representative of Brazilian colonial art, containing rich decoration in  gilded carvings , paintings and statuary, being listed by  Instituto do Patrimônio Histórico e Artístico Nacional _cc781905-5cde- 3194-bb3b-136bad5cf58d_(IPHAN).

 History of the Basilica is closely linked to the history of the city and begins at the beginning of the 18th century, when between 1703 and 1704 a chapel of  taipa was built _cc781905-5cde-3194 -bb3b-136bad5cf58d_thatched roof on top of Morro da Forca dedicated to  Virgin of Pilar . Around this chapel, the first in the village, a  arraial was formed. [1]  In 1709 this chapel was burned down during the  War of the Emboabas.