at a glance

inside the church, there are seven small chapels - capela de nossa senhora da conceição, capela de santa gertrudes, capela de são lourenço, capela de são caetano, capela de nossa senhora do pilar, capela de santo amaro, and the capela de são brás.       

with a history dating back over 400 years, the monastery has been a landmark on the city skyline for centuries - the monastery has panoramic views of the bay and is considered one of the most beautiful architectural masterpieces in the country.  

founded in 1590 by a group of monks from bahia, a region to the north-east of brazil, the monastery was built at the request of the city's inhabitants.

the building is a place of silence, peace, prayer, and work, in fact  several activities take place in the monastery daily - both the holy sacrifice of the mass and the officium divinum, or divine office, occur every day.