Capela dos Aflitos, Landmark of S�o Paulo's Black History, Reopens After Two Years of Restoration
Key takeaways
- The inculturated mass brought together bahianas, congadeiros, members of the Afro Pastoral and Indigenous leaders in a celebration marked by Afro chants and percussion instruments.
- The chapel was built over the former Aflitos Cemetery, which was used for the burial of enslaved people, Indigenous people, the poor and those sentenced to death.
- The restoration recovered a structure damaged by time and construction work on neighboring buildings, stabilizing cracks and repairing the roof.
Why this matters: an international story with cross-border implications worth tracking.
The inculturated mass brought together bahianas, congadeiros, members of the Afro Pastoral and Indigenous leaders in a celebration marked by Afro chants and percussion instruments.
The chapel was built over the former Aflitos Cemetery, which was used for the burial of enslaved people, Indigenous people, the poor and those sentenced to death. It is one of the city’s oldest temples and the only visible remnant of this historic territory.
The restoration recovered a structure damaged by time and construction work on neighboring buildings, stabilizing cracks and repairing the roof. The main altar, side altarpieces and part of the integrated artworks remain under restoration.