The Phenomenon of Religious Tourism at the Sanctuary of Senhor Bom Jesus de Matosinhos in Congonhas (MG)

Religious tourism at the Sanctuary of Senhor Bom Jesus de Matosinhos is driven not by its architectural or historical significance alone, but by the synergy between material and intangible elements during the annual Jubilee celebration. While other heritage sites attract visitors primarily for their cultural value, this sanctuary's unique phenomenon stems from the interplay of symbolic practices, cultural exchanges, and the physical structure itself. The study analyzes visitor data and the Sanctuary’s material-symbolic universe to reveal that the festival’s intangible aspects, conditioned by the site’s materiality, are the true catalysts for its status as one of Brazil’s largest pilgrimage destinations.

Nayara Souza Fernandes, & Pires, M. D. C. (2022). The Phenomenon of Religious Tourism at the Sanctuary of Senhor Bom Jesus de Matosinhos in Congonhas (MG). https://doi.org/10.5281/ZENODO.6879146