Igreja e Convento de Santa Clara do Desterro, Franciscan monastery and church in Salvador, Brazil
The Igreja e Convento de Santa Clara do Desterro is a Franciscan monastery and church in Salvador featuring two cloisters, a watchtower, and a bulbous bell tower built in the early 18th century. The complex forms a unified ensemble of religious buildings that reflects the architectural style of its era.
Four Poor Clares sisters from Évora arrived in 1677 to establish Brazil's first female monastery after receiving royal permission in 1665. The monastery quickly became an important religious center in the colonial period.
The complex preserves the parlor where families spoke with the nuns through a small grilled window, reflecting the order's strict enclosure. This architectural solution shows how the community maintained its religious seclusion while staying connected to visitors.
The monastery stands near Campo da Pólvora metro station in Salvador's Desterro district. The site is easily accessible on foot from central areas and close to other religious buildings in the neighborhood.
The sisters learned to produce 23 different liqueur flavors from the Poor Clares tradition, a practice that continues at Confeitaria São José. This artisanal specialty remains largely unknown but represents a fascinating craft that developed within the monastery walls.
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