Historic Churches of Bahia

Bahia’s religious heritage spans centuries of colonial history and cultural syncretism. This collection features the São Francisco Church, renowned for its intricate gold-leaf woodwork, and the Cathedral Basilica, a prime example of Jesuit Mannerist architecture. The list includes the unique cave sanctuary of Bom Jesus da Lapa, carved into a limestone outcrop along the São Francisco River. In Salvador, the Igreja do Bonfim serves as a center for Afro-Brazilian devotion, while the Church of the Rosary of the Black People highlights the legacy of the city's enslaved African population.