The enchanted city, founded in 1696, was, for a short time the capital of State of Minas Gerais. It was originaly called Royal Village of Our Lady of Carmel. In 1745 it received its present name which was in honor of Queen Maria Ana.

Seat of the first capital and diocese of Minas,Mariana maintains a distinctive eighteenth-century aura as reflected in its architecture, streetscapes, monuments and leisurely pace of life.

In Minas the designing of churches marked the beginning of more than a century of construction during which projects were constrained within the narrow limits of Jesuit tradition. The results were temples with simple exteriors but richly decorated interiors.