Arraial d'Ajuda

The municipality of Arraial starts just across Rio Buranhém from Porto Seguro, a 10-minute ferry ride. The town is about 4 km (2.5 mi) south of the river. It was founded by Jesuits that arrived in 1549 with the Portuguese official Tomé de Souza, the first governor-general of Brazil. Its name is a tribute to Our Lady of Help, a much-revered saint in Portugal. The church and parish were the center of the Catholic church in Brazil for more than a century.