IGREJA DE NOSSA SENHORA DO ROSÁRIO DOS PRETOS

This church was built by black slaves in the ^18th century so that they could celebrate their religious services since they could not attend the churches of the white elite. Due to the limited resources available, the brotherhood that built the church(Irmandade de Nossa Senhora do Rosário de Salvador, established in 1685) took some time to construct the building. It wasn't until 1704 that it managed to raise the necessary funds and obtain permission from Archbishop D. Sebastião Monteiro de Vide to begin the work, at the old Portas do Carmo, currently on Largo do Pelourinho. The body of the church was completed a little before the first half of the ^18th century, but it was not until 1780 that, under the direction of the master builder Caetano José da Costa, the Baroque and Rococo style façade and the towers with Indian influence motifs were erected. At the end of the ^19th century, the interior of the church was redecorated, with new altars in neoclassical style by the sculptor João Simões F. de Souzaet around 1870, and paintings. The visitor, after passing in front of the ^17th century statue of Nossa Senhora do Rosário, will find an old slave cemetery at the back of the church. It was here that the Bahian syncretism of Candomblé was officially recognized by the government.

Tuesday at 6 pm and Sunday at 9:30 am the mass is accompanied by percussion and the atmosphere is spectacular.