Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Verified listing

Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

The Basilica of the Immaculate Conception (Basílica Nossa Senhora da Conceição da Praia) stands in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. It is also known as the Basilica of the Conception. This church belongs to the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of São Salvador da Bahia. It dates back to 1623 and ranks among the oldest parishes in Brazil. Originally, Tomé de Sousa, the first governor-general of Brazil, ordered its construction.

However, the current structure was built much later. Workers in Portugal prefabricated it with precision. They then shipped the pieces across the Atlantic. Construction in Salvador began in 1739 and continued into the mid-1800s. As a result, the building blends European planning with Brazilian setting.

Unlike other Bahian churches of the time, this basilica follows Portuguese design. According to art historian Germain Bazin, it breaks from local tradition. Instead, it shows a strong European influence.

Manuel Cardoso Saldanha designed the basilica. In addition, master builder Eugénio da Mota crafted the stonework in Portugal. He also traveled with the materials to Salvador. The façade combines Baroque and Neoclassical styles. Therefore, it reflects common trends in 18th-century Portuguese church architecture.

The church gained basilica status in 1946. Pope Pius XII made that declaration and named Our Lady of Conception the patron saint of Bahia. This added even more spiritual and cultural weight.

Moreover, Robert C. Smith praised the basilica’s bold design. He viewed it as Brazil’s first true example of Baroque style after Mannerism. In contrast, João Miguel dos Santos Simões focused on its importance. He said the basilica stood out among all 18th-century Portuguese structures in Brazil.

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