Colina Sagrada, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
Basilica of Our Lord of Bonfim
An eighteenth-century church in Salvador, Brazil, dedicated to the Senhor do Bonfim and famous for its tradition of colorful ribbon wishes tied to the gates.
The Basilica do Senhor do Bonfim stands on the Sacred Hill in the Itapagipe peninsula of Salvador, Bahia, its Neoclassical white facade gleaming above the All Saints Bay. Built between 1746 and 1772, the church houses a crucifix of the Senhor do Bonfim brought from Portugal in 1745 and deeply venerated by Salvador's people. The Room of Miracles inside is hung with thousands of ex-votos — wax body parts, photographs, letters — left by those who received healings. Outside, the church railings are covered in colorful fitas (ribbons): visitors tie them on and make three wishes, one for each knot. The annual Lavagem do Bonfim festival, when women in white wash the church steps, draws millions and blends Catholic devotion with Afro-Brazilian culture in a way that is entirely Salvador's own.
Diocese: Archdiocese of Sao Salvador da Bahia
Style: Neoclassical Colonial
What to See
The Room of Miracles is unforgettable — the sheer number of ex-votos, from wax limbs to handwritten notes, communicates something no words can. The crucifix in the main church is powerful. Tie a ribbon to the railing and join a tradition that thousands follow every day.
Pilgrim Notes
The basilica is on the Itapagipe peninsula in Salvador. The Lavagem do Bonfim in January is spectacular but extremely crowded. For a quieter visit, come on an ordinary weekday. Salvador's Pelourinho historic center is a short ride away.