Formação territorial, tradição e memória na Capela da Ressaca em Carandaí - MG

Abstract

This study analyzes the Chapel of Our Lady of Glory (Capela de Nossa Senhora da Glória), located in the village of Ressaca, in the district of Hermilo Alves, municipality of Carandaí (Minas Gerais, Brazil), seeking to understand its historical, artistic, and heritage significance within the context of colonial Minas Gerais. The research investigates the territory of Ressaca as a space of circulation of people, knowledge, and cultural practices throughout the eighteenth century, a period in which several chapels were established as structures of religious and social organization. The analysis considers iconographic and stylistic aspects of the temple, highlighting the presence of elements characteristic of the Minas Gerais Rococo style and possible connections with artistic workshops active in the region of Vila Rica. The results demonstrate that, beyond its artistic value, the chapel constitutes an important axis of sociability and collective memory for the inhabitants of Ressaca, where religious traditions, cultural practices, and community narratives sustain the relationship between heritage and local identity. The research also points to the challenges related to heritage preservation in rural contexts, emphasizing community mobilization in the maintenance of the site and the need for more dialogical heritage policies that recognize the active participation of local communities in the management and valorization of cultural heritage.