Restauro das fachadas da Igreja Matriz de Nossa Senhora das Dores: desafios e soluções adotadas

Abstract

This paper presents the experience of restoring the façades of the Church of Our Lady of Sorrows (Igreja Matriz de Nossa Senhora das Dores), located in the municipality of Dores do Turvo, Minas Gerais, Brazil, carried out between 2021 and 2023. The intervention was based on an interdisciplinary methodology, combining technical diagnosis, laboratory analyses, and on-site practices, with the aim of restoring the building’s stability and aesthetic legibility. The study analyzes the stages of identifying pathological manifestations, the physicochemical characterization of mortars, and the criteria adopted for material and procedural compatibility, in accordance with the principles of minimal intervention, reversibility, and compatibility established by international heritage charters. The results highlight the importance of applied research as a decision-making tool and as a means of technical improvement in conservation works. The recomposition of surfaces, control of surface soiling, and consolidation of renderings ensured the durability of the ensemble and the recovery of its original materiality, contributing to the enhancement of the church as an urban and symbolic landmark for the local community. The study also reaffirms preventive conservation as a fundamental strategy for heritage sustainability, emphasizing the need for continuous maintenance and systematic planning to prevent future deterioration and invasive interventions.