Church of Our Lady of the Rosary of the Black People, Colonial Catholic church in Campina, Brazil.
The Church of Our Lady of the Rosary of the Black People is a church in the Campina district featuring two stone towers with rectangular belfries and circular openings. Its blue limestone facade contrasts distinctly against the plain masonry walls that surround it.
The Brotherhood of Our Lady of the Rosary began construction in 1709, with the work spanning nearly 100 years under master craftsman Caetano Jose da Costa. This extended timeline reflects both the scale of the undertaking and the resources available to the religious organization.
The church served as a gathering space for people of African descent in Belém from its earliest days, where they maintained their spiritual traditions alongside Catholic practices. Today visitors can sense this shared history through the way the community continues to use and honor the space.
The building is accessible during regular opening hours, and visitors should allow time to take in the craftsmanship and layout of the interior space. Local vendors near the entrance sell traditional candles used in religious ceremonies.
Hidden gilded walls were discovered during renovations in the 1960s, revealing gold contributions from enslaved miners throughout the construction period. This concealed layer tells a quiet story of sacrifice that typically remains invisible to the eye.
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