Cathedral of Salvador, Primatial cathedral in Pelourinho district, Salvador, Brazil
The Cathedral of Salvador is a rectangular structure with side chapels built from Portuguese Lioz stone following Mannerist design principles. Inside, a sacristy displays copper panel paintings and serves as a key space for religious ceremonies and functions.
Construction started in 1657 after Dutch forces destroyed earlier buildings, with the work completed in 1672 under Jesuit direction. This rebuilding period shaped the religious landscape of the early colonial city.
The cathedral displays religious artworks that show how artistic taste changed over more than two centuries in colonial Brazil. Visitors walking through can see how different periods of faith and craftsmanship are represented on the walls and altars.
You can walk through the sacristy with its copper artworks, attend mass services, or join guided tours of the religious complex. Set aside enough time to view the different chapels and their artworks at a comfortable pace.
Inside the sacristy sits an ornate wooden cabinet from 1694 decorated with carved scenes from the life of Jesus. This piece was created during the height of Portuguese colonial craftsmanship in Brazil.
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