| Congonhas | |
| Settlement Type: | Municipality |
| Official Name: | Municipality of Congonhas |
| Nickname: | "Cidade dos Profetas" |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Type1: | Region |
| Subdivision Type2: | State |
| Subdivision Name: |  Brazil |
| Subdivision Name1: | Southeast |
| Established Title: | Founded |
| Established Date: | 17 December 1938 |
| Leader Title: | Mayor |
| Leader Name: | Cláudio Antônio de Souza (MDB) |
| Area Total Km2: | 304.064 |
| Elevation M: | 871 |
| Elevation Footnotes: | [1] |
| Population As Of: | 2021 |
| Population Total: | 55,836 |
| Population Density Km2: | 159.57 |
| Population Footnotes: | [2] |
| Population Demonym: | congonhense |
| Timezone: | BRT |
| Utc Offset: | -3 |
| Postal Code Type: | Postal Code |
| Postal Code: | 36415-000 to 36419-999 |
| Blank Name: | HDI (2010) |
| Blank Info: | 0.753 – high[3] |
Congonhas (Congonhas do Campo until 1948) is a historical Brazilian city located in the state of Minas Gerais. It is situated south from Belo Horizonte, the capital of state of Minas Gerais, by the highway BR-040. As of 2020, the city had a population of 55,309.[4]
It is a well preserved historic city and retains the characteristics of a baroque city, with its churches, buildings and museums.
Other historical cities in Minas Gerais are Ouro Preto, São João del-Rei, Diamantina, Mariana, Tiradentes and Sabará.
The city is known for its basilica - the Portuguese: [[Santuário do Bom Jesus de Matosinhos]], commissioned by Portuguese adventurer and miner Feliciano Mendes in 1757 and completed in 1775.[5] [6] In the ramped forecourt of the basilica are twelve soapstone sculptures depicting Twelve Prophets, crafted by Aleijadinho, one of the best artists in the baroque style in the world. The twelve sculptures of old testament prophets around the terrace are considered one of his finest works. Around the forecourt are six chapels with painted wooden scenes depicting the Stations of the Cross. In 1985 the Sanctuary was named a World Heritage Site by UNESCO for its exemplary Baroque architecture and art.