Igreja de Nossa Senhora do Rosário e São Benedito

The Church of Our Lady of the Rosary and Saint Benedict is one of the oldest and most historically significant buildings in Cuiabá. Dating from the mid-18th century, it was constructed by members of the Irmandade de Nossa Senhora do Rosário — the Black Catholic brotherhood — using largely enslaved labour but for the community's own spiritual use. The result is a modest but finely proportioned colonial church in whitewashed baroque style.

The interior retains some of its original decoration and has been carefully maintained. The church stands in a residential area a short walk from the central Praça da República, and its modest scale makes a telling contrast with the grandeur of the cathedral nearby. It is worth visiting as part of any walk through the old centre.

things to do sight
A story
This church was built by and for the Black Catholic brotherhood of Cuiabá in the 18th century — a tradition common across Brazil, where enslaved and free Black communities established their own religious confraternities and built their own churches when excluded from the main cathedral. Our Lady of the Rosary and Saint Benedict are the patron saints most associated with African-Brazilian Catholicism.