Catedral Basilica de Salvador (Cathedral Basilica of Salvador), Salvador (must see)

The 17th-century Cathedral Basilica, also known as the “Sé,” is the undisputed matriarch of Brazilian Catholic churches. A heady mix of Baroque, Rococo, and Neoclassical flair, this architectural diva was originally built as part of a Jesuit monastic and educational complex. Built from sandstone blocks shipped all the way from Portugal, its history took a dramatic turn in the 1620s when the Dutch captured it, turned it into a warehouse, and made off with its silver finery. After the Portuguese regained control, the church was rebuilt in a Mannerist style to mimic the Jesuit Church of Coimbra back in Portugal. Even a devastating fire in the early 1900s could not hold it down; by 1933, it was restored once more, proving it’s as indestructible as it is elegant.

Step inside and you’re treated to a feast of colonial opulence: 16th-century tiles in the sacristy shipped from Macau, intricate ivory and tortoiseshell inlays from Goa on the third altar on the right, and enough gold leaf to dazzle the eye at every turn. Indeed, the church’s 13 gold-plated altars are a stunning display, covered in over 50,000 gold leaves, 5,000 silver leaves, and shaped by countless hours of skilled craftsmanship.

If that’s not enough, you’ll be treated to a gallery of 17th-century paintings, 30 carefully restored reliquary busts, and two exquisite altars that rank among the finest examples of late 16th-century Brazilian sacred art. The nave, crowned with the Latin inscription “IHS” (Jesus Humanity Savior), was painstakingly assembled over two years by five master carpenters using four shiploads of noble woods. Clearly, no expense—or effort—was spared.

As the glittering centerpiece of Salvador’s UNESCO-listed Historic Center, this cathedral rolls out the red carpet for history buffs and art lovers.