Capela de Nossa Senhora Santana, Portuguese colonial chapel in Ilhéus, Brazil.
Capela de Nossa Senhora Santana is a small stone and limestone chapel with a single nave, main altar, sacristy, and entrance porch. The structure features an incomplete T-shaped design with a bell tower and a conversation window in the sacristy area.
The chapel was built in the 17th century and originally belonged to the Santana Sugar Mill, operated by friars of the Santo Antão community. The building later passed to ownership of the Mem de Sá family.
The chapel displays religious artwork from colonial times, including wooden saint carvings and a stone baptismal font that reflect the faith practices of its earliest worshippers. These objects show how deeply religious life shaped the community that gathered here.
The building sits in the Coutos district near the Engenho River and is protected by two heritage organizations, IPHAN and IPAC. Visitors should note that this is a protected cultural property and requires respectful handling.
The chapel features a conversation window in the sacristy, a rare communication feature that reflects how clergy and visitors interacted in daily colonial life. This architectural detail provides insight into practical communication methods of the period.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
