The imposing Igreja de São Francisco de Assis, with its white-washed walls, stands at the end of an avenue lined with royal palms. A showpiece of Baroque art in Minas Gerais, it was designed by Aleijadinho (1774), although his plans were modified. He also created the magnificent sculpted façade and the gilded wood altar, in which is a backdrop to some beautiful statues. The nave, whose flooring is two-coloured, has a surprisingly high ceiling. The lateral chapels, which were built at a time when gold was becoming scarce in the region, are not covered in precious metal.