Convent and Church of Santa Teresa and the UFBA Museum of Sacred Art in Salvador

Published on December 28, 2022 · Updated on June 20, 2026

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Convent and Church of Santa Teresa: a heritage site and Museum of Sacred Art in Salvador (BA)

Address: Rua do Sodré, No. 25 – Pelourinho, Salvador, Bahia

The UFBa Museum of Sacred Art is housed within the complex of the Convent and Church of Santa Teresa, occupying part of the former convent’s premises.

Convento e Igreja de Santa Teresa em Salvador — Convent and Church of Santa Teresa in Salvador

Interior do Convento e Igreja de Santa Teresa em Salvador — Interior of the Convent and Church of Santa Teresa in Salvador

Azulejo português no Convento e Igreja de Santa Teresa, Salvador — Portuguese tiles at the Convent and Church of Santa Teresa, Salvador

Historical overview (17th–20th centuries)

História do Convento e Igreja de Santa Teresa - Salvador BA

The Convent and Church of Santa Teresa, in Pelourinho, were built by Discalced Carmelite friars from 1665 onwards; the convent was inaugurated in 1686 and the church was completed on 15 October 1697. The work was overseen by religious figures such as Friar José do Espírito Santo and, according to historical sources, Friar Macário de São João was involved in the design of the church.Over the centuries, the complex has served various purposes: as a seminary (from 1837 onwards), for civil and educational uses, and has undergone renovations and periods of partial neglect. In 1959, the Federal University of Bahia established the Museum of Sacred Art on the site, which houses one of the largest collections of its kind in the country.

Ilustração do Convento de Santa Tereza feita pelo arquiteto inglês Edmund Thomas Blacket (1817-1883) com data de 9 de agosto de 1842 — Illustration of the Convent of Santa Tereza by the English architect Edmund Thomas Blacket (1817–1883), dated 9 August 1842

Architecture and artistic features

The convent is organised around a square cloister; the church occupies one side of the complex. The floor plan draws on Roman Jesuit models — a nave and transept of equal height, a dome at the crossing and interconnected chapels — and features a narthex with three arches, as well as a classical façade inspired by Vignola. The tower was replaced by a side bell gable, in keeping with the architectural styles of the period.

UFBA Museum of Sacred Art — collection

The UFBa Museum of Sacred Art houses around 1,400 items (dating from the 16th to the 19th centuries): wooden and terracotta figures, sculptures, paintings, tiled panels, silverware and sacred furniture. Many of the items came from the former cathedral, which was demolished in 1933, and from donations and transfers from the Curia and other national and international collections.

Escultura de Santa Teresa d'Ávila - Acervo do Museu de Arte Sacra da UFBa — Sculpture of Saint Teresa of Ávila – Collection of the UFBa Museum of Sacred Art

Esculturas do Acervo do Museu de Arte Sacra da UFBa — Sculptures from the Collection of the UFBA Museum of Sacred Art

Acervo do Museu de Arte Sacra da UFBa — Painting: The Adoration of the Infant Jesus – Collection of the UFBA Museum of Sacred Art

Pintura Jesus no Horto das Oliveriras - Acervo do Museu de Arte Sacra da UFBa — Painting: ‘Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane’ – Collection of the UFBA Museum of Sacred Art

Significant events and restorations

Throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, the complex underwent structural alterations and the loss of original features, and was partially restored in the 20th century. Among the initiatives undertaken in the 1950s and 1960s, the agreement between the University of Bahia (now UFBa) and the Archdiocese (1958) and the opening of the museum on 10 August 1959, with technical support from IPHAN, are particularly noteworthy.

Practical information for visitors

Address: Rua do Sodré, No. 25, Pelourinho — Salvador (BA).
Visiting hours: check opening times and ticket office information on the UFBA / Museum of Sacred Art website.
Tip: make the most of the historic surroundings of Pelourinho to put your visit into context.

Sources and further reading

This text is based on historical research into the Santa Teresa Convent and Church complex, the collection of the UFBa Museum of Sacred Art, and heritage documentation. For further information, please consult local publications, the UFBa collection and IPHAN records.See also: Churches in Salvador, Bahia

Written by Willy Sievert

Editor of Bahia.ws since its founding in 2009. Based in Salvador, he travels frequently across the Northeast and all of Brazil to keep the guides up to date. Learn more about Willy Sievert →