our lady of the rosary of black people

The simpleness of the church and the messages on the boards outside which were very deep and meaningful to peoples of colour. Too often their situation and feelings are ignored by others.

Great historical interest in the historical center of Salvador. It shows the contrast between the Portuguese "slave holder" churches and the simple beauty of the oppressed people.

The exterior of the building is very special with all the Bahian ribbons attached to the fence. The church itself includes a number of statues of saints and holds a lot of history but a lot of it falls flat if you do not attend a service because the exceptional nature of the place (namely, its african heritage) gets a bit lost otherwise.Our guidebook was mentioning a slave graveyard and we felt it was appropriate to go pay our respect. To our surprise (but after all very logically), it is quite small and very sober. This is fitting in context but it is helpful to know what to expect.

This church is probably the most austere of the churches in Salvador but is the one that I enjoyed visiting most. The history attached to it is evident and the information boards, which are also in English, help to put the history into the context of the present day. Well worth seeing.

Outside are hanging too many colorful Bahian ribbons and inside one can see several statues of black saints... Nice interior and worth to visit the church because of its history.

This church, built in 1704, is an example of the brotherhoods created by slaves, including the ex-slaves, with their work, money and devotion. The construction took place with the work of those slaves in their few hours of rest. In the back of the church there is also a graveyard that deserves a visit. During the masses, on Sundays, they still use songs inspired by the African candomble.

If you like the sung masses of Harlem or New Orleans, go for it! Masses are celebrated on Sunday mornings and Tuesday nights and it is a really unusual experience (unless you are a regular of black churches in the US!)

Most exuberant, energetic Catholic celebration of Mass that you will ever experience. The congregation is local but tourists are welcomed. If you are in the Pelourinho and hear drums and song, it is not necessarily a samba band. Check out the church on the right at the bottom of the Pelo.

The men and women who saved their money for a century to build this building have left their spirits and wisdom in these walls. Visiting this church for a mass feels like being thrown back into the 16th century. When enslaved Africans would celebrate the simple things like faith and the possibility of freedom. If you are able to visit and you have time to go when they are holding a service, you should make it happen. I will say, though, if you are pressed for time, as cool as it is, you can skip it! Just be sure to walk by while visiting Pelo. Beautiful.

This was entirley new to me - a church bult by slaves in their spare (!) time because they were not allowed to worship in regular churches. There were also features resonant of Candomble, in the saints portrayed, which were pointed out to me by a member of our party and which gave this church a deeper significance.

The paintings in the ceiling are amazing and in the outside there are thousands of "Senhor do Bonfim" bracelets, hanging in the bars - worths the visit and a good picture.

Worth the time when you're in the pelourinho district. Historically interesting, with some notable architectural features.

You have to visit this church during mass because the presence of the people and the music is what makes this place worth a visit. African culture mixed with catholic costumes.

Beautiful church. But, be sure to go during an evening mass (on Tuesdays i think?). The music and the singing is stunning!

Located in the Pelourinho, this church is one of the many in the area, definitely not the most attractive, but for Christians of whiter colour -like we are- it is quite an attraction. Having been the slaves' church, saints are rendered in black,well.... why not !