Igreja de Sao Domingos Gusmao (Church of St. Dominic of Osma), Salvador

Perched on Terreiro de Jesus, flanked by the Cathedral Basilica of Salvador and Bahia’s Faculty of Medicine, stands a church that stops passersby in their tracks—not because it’s towering, but because it’s got just one tower. This lopsided beauty is the Church of Saint Dominic of Osma, or simply São Domingos to its friends.

Built in 1731, São Domingos sports a Rococo façade while the interior leans Neoclassical. But the pièce de résistance is undoubtedly the nave’s ceiling. Stretching a whopping 173 square meters, it’s adorned with a Baroque illusionist masterpiece attributed to José Joaquim da Rocha—Brazil’s Baroque VIP. The painting offers a dazzling view of paradise, using the concave ceiling to trick your eyes into seeing infinite heavenly depth.

Once you’ve marveled at the ceiling and soaked in the ornate décor, you can step into the sacristy and the Chapel of the Good Death. Back in the day, this chapel hosted numerous wakes thanks to its proximity to Pelourinho’s Institute of Legal Medicine. Now it moonlights as a museum featuring Dominican Order saints like Saint Martin de Porres, Saint Thomas Aquinas, Saint Catherine of Siena, Saint Paula, and Saint Cecilia.

Feeling adventurous? Descend into the catacombs to mingle with some 18th-century tombs. Or, if you’re up for a climb, tackle the 75 steps to the top of the lone tower. This cube-shaped lookout features four windows, each hosting its own bell. The largest bell, weighing in at 1.2 tons, was installed in 1789. Unfortunately, it’s never been restored, so it’s strictly a “look, don’t listen” situation.