Igreja e Convento de Nossa Senhora do Carmo (Our Lady of Mount Carmel), Salvador

Erected in the early 1600s in a prim-and-proper neoclassical style, the Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel shows off one of the most jaw-dropping sacristies on the planet. Tucked behind it, you’ll find the world’s largest Carmelite convent—complete with two cloisters, 80 cells, and a past life as Brazil’s first fancy-pants historic luxury hotel.

This holy hotspot, founded in 1585 on Rua do Carmo, played host to the Dutch surrender back in the day. Inside, you’ll stumble upon a glorious image of Our Lady sculpted by none other than Chagas, “O Cabra“—one of Brazil’s greatest chisel-wielding geniuses. The altar and tabernacle are dripping in silver, and yes, that’s the very chair King John VI parked himself in during religious services. As if that weren’t enough, the chapel of Our Lady of Piety doubles as the final resting place for poet Junqueira Freire and Dutch-expulsion hero Count Bagnuoli. Talk about VIP seating.

But the real showstopper? That sacristy. It’s a carnival of gilded carvings, ceiling panels spinning tales of Saint Elias, and standout pieces like a 17th-century bronze crucifix and grand statues of Carmelite VIPs—Saint Telesphorus, Saint Dionysius, Saint Peter Thomas, and Saint Andrew Corsini. Oh, and don’t overlook the jacaranda wood cabinets with handcrafted silver handles—pure artistry. And did we mention O Cabra’s masterpiece, “Christ at the Column“? It’s right there, too—a nod to the sculptor’s brilliance.

As for that Dutch surrender story: In 1624, Salvador fell to Dutch troops, and this convent became the nerve center of the Portuguese-Spanish-Brazilian resistance. After a months-long standoff at the Carmo Gates (“Portas do Carmo“), the invaders finally called it quits. And where did they sign the surrender? You guessed it—in what’s now the sacristy. From that day on, the Convent of Mount Carmel stood as a proud symbol of Salvador’s defiance and resilience.