The Church of Our Lady of the Rosary of Black Men, Sao Paulo

Africans have been a part of Brazilian culture since the 16th century when they were brought to the country as slaves to work on the many plantations. In addition, African culture has merged seamlessly with the Catholic religion, the European culture, and is an integral part of the fiber of Brazil.

The Church of Our Lady of the Rosary of Black Men, also known as Largo Paicandu Church, demonstrates this admixture. Located on the R. das Portas do Carmo, construction of the house of worship was completed in 1820. The church was needed because black slaves were denied entry into European churches. The place of worship is decorated with the images of black saints. Two famous saints you will see when you visit are Saint Anthony of Catigerona, an African, and Saint Benedict, a Moor.

What is impressive about this majestic blue structure is that the slaves built it themselves and provided their own materials. Construction of the church began in 1704 and took over 100 years to complete. The design of the church is Baroque. There are three altars, one of which has gold engraving. The building is a beautiful example of 17th century design. It is worth a visit just to see the Tuesday Mass at 6 pm that features African drumming and Yoruba ceremonies.