Bahia – San Francisco Church

Church of San Francisco in Salvador de Bahia in Brazil’s North-East. This most elaborate expression of Brazilian Baroque is at the same time a symbol of the paradoxes in Brazilian history. Built by slaves with 960 kg of gold leaves for the Order of San Francisco, the saint of poverty, it is at the same time a celebration of creativity, baroque playfulness and joy of life. As Jorge Amado said once about this part of Salvador: “The entire history of Bahia has passed through here; its humanity, both the best and the worst-off. All the richness of Baianos, in their grace and civilization, all the infinitive poverty, drama and magic have been born and are present here.”