Sadly, a fire in 1967 destroyed much of the elaborate interior of this historic church, leaving only the unadorned walls that date back to the early 1700s. Dedicated to our Lady of the Rosary as well as the black St Benedict, the church has been an important icon for Afro-Brazilians, serving a congregation of mostly black and mulatto Catholics over the years.
Penitents leave offerings to the black martyr Anastasia (venerated as a saint, but not recognized officially by the Catholic church) in a candle-lit room next to the entrance. A huge crowd gathers every May 13, to commemorate the end of slavery.
