The Church of Nossa Senhora do Rosário and São Benedito began to be built in 1787 and was only completed in 1830. Built in the Baroque style, stones and whale oil were used in its structure. This is the second oldest church on the island.
Its construction was slow, as the Brotherhood of Our Lady of the Rosary of Black Men was a very poor brotherhood. Founded in 1750, it was composed mainly of slaves and ex-slaves and a few humble white men.
The cult of Our Lady of the Rosary by slaves of African origin was common throughout the Portuguese Empire. Place of worship and meeting place for the slave and freed community of Desterro, the Church of Nossa Senhora do Rosário e São Benedito also had an attached cemetery, deactivated when the Municipal Cemetery was inaugurated.
Despite being simple, the Church of Nossa Senhora do Rosário and São Benedito stands out in the Historic Center of Florianópolis. An interesting fact is that it was from the top of his staircase that the famous island artist Victor Meirelles painted, in the 19th century, the canvas “Vista do Desterro” where he portrayed the city of that time in a panoramic view, with the South Bay in the background.
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