Church and Monastery of Our Lady of Grace, Catholic colonial monastery in Salvador, Brazil
The Church and Monastery is a baroque building situated near Salvador's coast, featuring a distinctive bulb-shaped tower dome and a well-organized interior with multiple altars. The structure shows how colonial religious buildings combined European architectural styles with local construction.
The complex began as a small chapel in 1535 and was later expanded into a monastery for Benedictine monks, becoming an important religious center. The monks remained there for centuries, shaping the building through ongoing improvements and additions.
The name honors Mary and the grace she represents, a devotion central to this site since its founding. Visitors can walk through the spaces where monks once lived and prayed, experiencing how religious life was organized in colonial times.
The site sits on Avenida Princesa Leopoldina close to Salvador's waterfront, making it easily accessible by foot from nearby areas. The complex remains an active religious site, so visiting hours may depend on ongoing prayer times and services.
The site holds the remains of a native Brazilian woman who lived in the early 1500s and received baptism in France during her time overseas. Her story connects indigenous, European, and African influences that shaped Salvador's colonial beginnings.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
