Video: The history and colonial architecture of the Cathedral Basilica of Salvador.
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Catedral Basílica de Salvador
Also see all the churches in Salvador, Bahia.
Foundation and Early Years
The first Jesuits, who arrived with Governor-General Tomé de Sousa in 1549, settled in a chapel dedicated to Our Lady of Help within the city walls.
Later, they received a land donation outside the city walls. There, they built the Terreiro de Jesus, attracting indigenous people to learn crafts, reading and writing, and catechesis under Brother Vicente Rodrigues’s coordination.
The Colégio dos Meninos (Boys’ School) was founded in 1550 and was elevated to the status of a Canonical College in 1556.
Urban growth and the foundation of the college
Father Manuel da Nóbrega emphasised the importance of the Terreiro for the expansion of Salvador. The Jesuit College was formally established in 1564 and received royal alms, enabling it to support around 60 religious figures.
Construction of the current church
The current church is the fourth building to stand on this site. Built in accordance with the Council of Trent’s norms, the foundation stone was laid in 1657, with the structure being completed in 1672.
The frontispiece was almost completed in 1679, and the two towers were built in 1694.
The façade combines Renaissance and Baroque elements and, in 1746, featured images of Saints Ignatius of Loyola, Francis Xavier and Francis Borgia.
Materials and decoration
The interior and exterior cladding is made of lioz stone, which was known as ‘Italian marble’ at the time. It was brought from Portugal as ship ballast and ordered in Lisbon by Father António Vaz.
It was through the intervention of visitor Cristóvão de Gouveia that Brother Francisco Dias was mentioned as an architect.
Colonial architecture and internal layout
Ship and internal layout
In accordance with Tridentine norms, the church features a single nave, a deep chancel and two side chapels. There are also two chapels in the transept.
The style of the altars varies according to their sponsors and the periods in which they were built. The altars dedicated to Saint Ursula, Saint Francis Xavier and Saint Ignatius of Loyola are particularly notable.
High Altar and Dressing Room
The high altar, which features gilded woodcarvings supported by Doric columns, was crafted by Brother João Correia between 1665 and 1670 in a Renaissance-Baroque transitional style.
The upper dressing room was opened in 1670 and features panels that are thought to have been made by Brother Domingos Rodrigues. The
The chancel contains a series of 18 paintings on the life of Jesus, attributed to Domingos Rodrigues, which are close to the Mannerist style.
Sponsorships and burials.
Local patrons participated in the construction. Captain Francisco Gil de Araújo sponsored the chancel and purchased burial rights in the church, while his family funded several other projects.
Artists and crafts
Historical sources cite several artists, including the woodcarvers João Correia, Luís Manuel Trigueiros and Domingos Trigueiros, as well as the painters Domingos Rodrigues and Eusébio de Mattos. Many works are anonymous.
Chapels, reliquaries and objects.
After the expulsion of the Jesuits, the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament received items from the old cathedral, including 17th-century tabernacles and silver carvings.
In the transept are two important Baroque altars: Saint Francis Xavier (on the Epistle side) and Saint Ignatius of Loyola (on the Gospel side). These were built in 1754 by anonymous artists. Saint Francis Xavier was proclaimed the city’s patron saint in 1686.
The collection includes works depicting Spanish influences, such as the reliquary bust of Saint Francis Xavier and the image of Our Lady of Miracles.
The Museum of Sacred Art displays seventeenth-century images with wooden interiors and silver-plated exteriors, which form part of the heritage.
The last altar on the right is dedicated to the Eleven Thousand Virgins. Renovated in the 18th century, it contains busts and a statue of Saint Ursula.
Two altars on the left housed reliquaries of martyrs, dating from 1581, which were adapted between 1657 and 1672. Due to structural limitations, these pieces have been restored and remain in the Museum of Sacred Art.
The ceiling of the nave of the Cathedral Basilica of Salvador. Side altars – Cathedral Basilica of Salvador Side altars – Cathedral Basilica of Salvador Transept Chapel, Cathedral Basilica of Salvador Reliquary Busts – Cathedral Basilica of Salvador Lining, iconography and panels.
Work on the ceiling began in 1696 and was completed in 1700. The central sun bears the initials IHS (Iesus Hominum Salvator). The corners feature the symbols of the four evangelists: the Lion, the Bull, the Eagle and the Man.
The lining’s frame is attributed to Brother Luís Manuel. Restoration work carried out in 1998 revealed that the lining’s original colour was cream and that it contained elements of Jesuit iconography.
Details of the altars and interior of the Cathedral Basilica in Salvador, Bahia. Details of the altars and interior of the Cathedral Basilica in Salvador, Bahia. The Cathedral and its entire collection were listed by IPHAN in 1938 due to their great historical and artistic importance. The cathedral is known as the Cathedral Basilica of Salvador. Baptistery
To the left of the entrance is the baptistery, which has a font carved from a single block of Lioz stone. This was historically used for baptisms by immersion.
Sacristy
The grand and sober sacristy contains three altars made of multicoloured Italian marble, as well as 18th-century Baroque images. Of particular note are Our Lady of Faith and a Baroque Crucified Christ, which may have originated from the 18th-century high altar.
There is a washbasin made from similar stones, bearing the Jesuit emblem of IHS.
Sacristy of the Cathedral Basilica of Salvador Sacristy of the Cathedral Basilica of Salvador Furniture and armoires
A large, rosewood chest decorated with tortoiseshell and ivory occupies the entire wall between the sacristy and the church.
Dating from 1701 and featuring a high backrest and fourteen painted copper blades, it was crafted in the company’s workshops in 1683 under the direction of Brother Luís Manuel de Matosinhos.
These plates are attributed to Gerardo della Notte and depict scenes from the life of the Virgin Mary.
Sacristy of the Cathedral Basilica of Salvador Sacristy of the Cathedral Basilica of Salvador Ceiling and paintings
The sacristy’s ceiling consists of 21 painted tempera figures arranged in coffers (1673–1683).
Saint Ignatius of Loyola is in the centre, accompanied by martyrs from Brazil and Japan, as well as the first Jesuit apostles, who are identified by inscriptions.
The frames are in the style of the Renaissance, while the panels display Baroque motifs.
Bookshop and museum
The old school library, located above the sacristy, features a staircase adorned with 18th-century Portuguese tiles and a Baroque-style ceiling depicting the Allegory of Wisdom over Time and Fortune. This ceiling is attributed to António Simões Ribeiro by Luís de Moura Sobral. The library now houses the Cathedral Museum.
Final considerations
The Catedral Basílica de Salvador brings together significant examples of colonial architecture, showcasing the work of Jesuit craftsmen and European artists. It preserves collections of artefacts and traditions that document centuries of devotion and artistic intervention in the historic centre of Salvador.
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