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Salvador is scattered throughout with a staggering 300 churches
of Portuguese and black slave origins and temples.
Sao Francisco Church, Salvador
In colonial Brazil, slaves were forced to convert to Catholicism.
The Portuguese constructed over 300 churches in Salvador alone
and it was the slaves who built them. Sao Francisco is one
of the most ornate, using real gold leaf like wallpaper.
The cherubs decorating the pillars are without genitalia.
Slaves carved them with disfigured faces and grotesque organs
and embarrassed priests had to chisel away the offending pieces.
Built in 1591, it is now in ruin but is still preserving
the Portuguese colonial baroque style. Nowadays it is known
as the convent of Carmelitas Descalcadas and it houses
the tombs of Franciscans priests.
Church of Bom Fin, Salvador
The Church of Bom Fin is famous for it's miraculous healing
powers. Sufferers leave replicas giant casts of the part of
their sick body part and pray for it to be cured. Photos and
letters line the walls of this room of miracles from people
who can't afford body part replicas.
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