VR Igreja Nossa Senhora dAjuda

Arraial district d'Ajuda includes the first sanctuary of Brazil: the Church of Our Lady of Help. The image of Santa arrived in 1549, brought by the Portuguese Jesuits. The religious arrived in these lands in three ships: Conceição, Salvador and Help, which came soon after to give names to the churches.
The construction of the sanctuary, which housed the image of Our Lady of Help, began around 1550. As was customary, the chapels were built very primitive form, with thatched structures. Each had a greeting altar to Our Lady with mobile altarpiece, to facilitate its removal.
Only in 1772 the great work of stone and lime was carried by the ombudsman José Machado Monteiro. Since then the temple has undergone several interventions, and the most important took place in 1999/2000 conducted by the Ministry of Culture and the IPHAN - Institute of Historical and Artistic Heritage. In 2006, after heavy rains in the region, restructuring were made in the surroundings and a new staircase was built.
Arraial d'Ajuda is marked by a tradition of pilgrimages. On foot or on horseback, old, whole families made their pilgrimages to the location for the party period, which takes place every August 15. Behind the church, besides the breathtaking view, there is a source of pure water considered miraculous by many.
For tourists, the landscape and the history of Our Lady of Help Sanctuary can not be left out of the script. For believers, it is a unique opportunity to meet and experience a bit of one of the oldest and most important Catholic churches in Brazil!