Our Lady of Good Success of Black River Church

Our Lady of Good Success of Black River Church

Introduction

The people of Salvador have long revered Our Lady of Good Success of Black River, so much so that the tradition is almost indistinguishable from the city’s founding history. When Brazil’s first governor-general, Tomé de Sousa, established Salvador in 1549, he ordered the construction of a small chapel dedicated to the Virgin Mary. The present church building is the third version. The second version was built on the same site in 1623. In 1736, new blueprints were sent to Portugal and the structure was rebuilt using lioz stone. The materials for the church were gradually transported from Europe to Brazil bit by bit, resulting in an eighty-year construction period, from 1765 to 1849. The church courtyard features a fountain, beside which a marble staircase leads to the parishioners' room. The façade exhibits Neoclassical characteristics, with two bell towers built diagonally. The interior is decorated in the Baroque style, and the ceiling frescoes were painted by José Joaquim da Rocha in 1772. Our Lady of Good Success of Black River Church and all its collections have been designated as national heritage sites under protection. The famous nun, Sister Dulce, is also buried in this church.

Brazil Brasília