The Minor Basilica of Our Lady of Sorrows (Portuguese: Basílica Menor de Nossa Senhora das Dores) is the oldest standing Catholic temple in the Brazilian city of Porto Alegre, in the state of Rio Grande do Sul.

[3] In Porto Alegre, the worship was already documented in 1799, when a Devotion was created to celebrate Mass every Friday in honor of its Patroness, enthroned on a side altar of the Old Church of Our Lady Mother of God.

This devotion was the origin of the Brotherhood of Our Lady of Sorrows, organized in 1801, with Father Thomé Luiz de Souza, then curate of the parish church, on the board of directors.

On November 22, 1817, the Brotherhood's Commitment was approved by the king, which established the male positions of prior, vice-prior, secretary, treasurer, procurator, vicar of the cult of the Divine, chief sacristan, janitors, brothers of the Table, judge, protectors, walker, and the female positions of prioress, director, aunts of the Blessed Virgin, stewards and judge.

According to the story, the delay in completion was the result of the curse of a slave who was unjustly condemned to hang for stealing a necklace from the statue of Our Lady.

[8] After its completion, the building suffered serious deterioration over the years, leading to emergency restoration work being conducted in 1980 on the roof and ceiling, in 1996 on the chancel and in 1998 on the staircase.

From 2001 onwards, new projects began to remodel the parking lot and enlarge the assembly hall, with resources from the community and from the state and federal Cultural Incentive Laws.

[2][11] The Basilica is located at the top of a hill and is accessed from Andradas Street through an iron gate supported by pillars and a balustrade, which opens onto a churchyard and a monumental staircase.

[12] On the first floor, there are three round-arched doors framed in stone, separated by pilasters and Corinthian capitals supporting a cornice decorated with geometric motifs.

The pilasters are repeated and support a cornice with the inscription VENERÁVEL ORDEM TERCEIRA DE NOSSA SENHORA DAS DORES (English: VENERABLE THIRD ORDER OF OUR LADY OF SORROWS).

Three round arched niches were installed on the third level aligned with the windows, where statues by João Vicente Friedrichs depicting Faith, Hope and Charity were placed.

Above the whole complex stands a triangular pediment on which the date MDCCCC (1900) has been inscribed, flanked by two small pinnacles and crowned by a carved iron cross.

Starting with a base decorated with plaster in imitation of dressed stone, a second level rises with a niche pierced by a small ogival window.

There is a single nave, flanked by a series of altars richly carved and gilded by João do Couto e Silva with a round arched profile and a large decorated frame, Solomonic columns and baldachins, as well as niches for statuary.

It also has tribunes and the high altar in a stepped style, with neoclassical features, and a sculptural group at the top with images of Christ on the cross, flanked by the Mater Dolorosa and St. John.

[12] The basilica also has a significant collection of artistic and historical pieces that are not in use, such as books, statues, paintings, engravings, decorative objects, furniture, liturgical vestments, ornaments and others.