The Museu de Congonhas was inaugurated on December, 30 years after the inclusion of the Santuário do Bom Jesus do Matosinhos in the list of UNESCO´s World Cultural Heritage. The museum was conceived by the Brazilian branch of the UNESCO, the IPHAN (the national institute of artistic and historic heritage) and Congonhas´ City Hall.

The design by Gustavo Penna Arquiteto e Associados won the first prize of the competition, and started a long process of construction. What follows is part of the architect´s statement: “The museum is dedicated to making clear mediation regarding the eloquent heritage built through time and by time. Being like this, it tries to establish a bond with the symbolic grounds started in the 18th century”