Ilê Axé Iyá Nassô Oká, Religious temple in Salvador, Brazil
Ilê Axé Iyá Nassô Oká is a Candomblé religious complex in the Engenho Velho neighborhood of Salvador, registered as a protected national heritage asset. The site extends across 6,800 m² (73,000 square feet) and includes several buildings, sacred trees, and spaces for ritual practices.
The three African freedwomen Iyá Nassô, Iyá Adetá, and Iyá Akalá founded the temple around 1830 after returning from Benin. The federal heritage authority IPHAN granted the site national heritage status in 1986, marking the first official recognition of an Afro-Brazilian religious center.
The temple preserves the worship of Orixás through ceremonies and offerings carried out according to West African traditions. The community honors Oxóssi and Xangô particularly through regular rituals that involve singing, dancing, and ceremonial robes.
The entrance to the complex is located on Avenida Vasco da Gama, where a white flag marks the protected site. Visitors should be mindful of the religious nature of the place and dress respectfully, especially during ceremonial activities.
Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer designed the Oxum Plaza renovation with a boat-shaped shrine near the entrance. This shrine is dedicated to the goddess Oxum and connects modern architecture with Candomblé religious symbolism.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
