of Vitória, but the church is now surrounded by a dense urban area. The stair leading to the churchyard is both steep and irregular; the steps are made of individual stones of both irregular shape and size. The church is framed by two large palm trees at the top of the stairway. A cemetery was built to the side of the church to ensure a burial place for members of the Brotherhood. Public cemeteries in the colonial period did not allow the burial of Afro-Brazilians, even those emancipated before death. The church has a small museum to house sacred pieces and vestments. It also houses a platform used during its annual procession; it weighs approximately . The interior consists of a nave, chancel, and sacristy. Its corridors have two ossuaries for members of the Brotherhood of Our Lady of the Rosary. The church has four altars; the high altar dates to 1911. It houses an image of Our Lady of the Rosary. It also houses images of two Ethiopian saints traditionally revered by Afro-Brazilians: Saint Elesbaan (Santo Elesbão) and Saint Ephigenia (Santa Efigênia). Protected status The Church of Our Lady of the Rosary was listed as a historic structure by the National Institute of Historic and Artistic Heritage in 1950. It is listed in the Book of Historical Works process no. 422. References Baroque church buildings in Brazil Roman Catholic churches in Espírito Santo 18th-century Roman Catholic church buildings in Brazil Roman Catholic churches completed in 1767 Portuguese colonial architecture in Brazil