Editing Paraty (section)

=== Churches ===
There are four<!-- seven are listed here --> important historic [[baroque]] churches in Paraty:

==== Chapel of Saint Rita ====
Capela de Santa Rita is the oldest church in Paraty. It was completed in 1722. This was the church of the freed slaves and freeman, former slaves. It is currently home to the Museum of Sacred Art.

==== Church of Nossa Senhora do Rosário e São Benedito ====
This church was built and used by Paraty's African slaves. It dates back to the year 1725. The church has a much simpler, more rustic style than the other three churches in Paraty. Every year in the first week of December the festivities of São Benedito are held in this church.

==== Chapel of Nossa Senhora das Dores ====
This chapel dates back to 1800. It was used mostly by the rich women of society. Construction was overseen by the presiding priest, Father Antonio Xavier da Silva Braga. The building was later renovated in 1901. The image of Nossa Senhora da Piedade was stolen from this chapel. It was finally recovered in the 1990s, and now can be seen at the Museum of Sacred Art in the Capela de Santa Rita.

==== Church of Nossa Senhora dos Remédios ====
Igreja Matriz Nossa Senhora dos Remédios is the largest church in Paraty. It takes up over an entire city block. Its construction began in 1646 when a woman named Maria Jácome de Melo donated the land for the construction of the village of Paraty, however she demanded two conditions: The first was the building of a chapel dedicated to Nossa Senhora dos Remédios and the second was that no one would harm the Indians that lived in the area at that time. The church was completed in 1873.

<gallery>
Image:Capela de Santa Rita 1.jpg|Capela de Santa Rita
Image:Paraty-_church-_Igreja _de_Nossa_Senhora_do _Rosário _e_São_Benedito_cropped.jpg|Igreja de Nossa Senhora do Rosário e São Benedito
Image:Capela de Nossa Senhora das Dores - Paraty.jpg|Capela de Nossa Senhora das Dores
Image:Paraty- church- Igreja Matriz da Nossa Senhora dos Remédios_cropped.jpg|Igreja Matriz da Nossa Senhora dos Remédios
</gallery>

==== Chapel of the Generosa ====
[[File:Capela_da_Generosa.jpg|thumb|left|Capela da Generosa]]
Additionally, there is a very small chapel called Capela da Generosa which according to legend, was constructed in 1901 by the order of a generous female patron, in memory of Teodoro. Teodoro supposedly drowned in the river Perequê-Açu when he tried to fish on Good Friday, a day on which according to tradition it was not recommended to fish.

==== Chapel of Nossa Senhora da Conceição ====
[[File:Paraty mirim- igreja2.jpg|thumb|Capela Nossa Senhora da Conceição]]
There are also historical churches in two nearby small villages, Paraty Mirim and Penha.

Paraty-Mirim (Little Paraty) is the site of first chapel built by settlers in the region around Paraty (1686). At the time of its construction Paraty-Mirim an important commercial center and thriving village. Today however, all that remains there are the church itself and a scattering private homes. Although in recent years the tourist trade has grown there due to the pristine beaches in the area and Paraty-Mirim now has a few small inns, a couple of restaurant/bars and offers boat tours.

==== Church of Nossa Senhora da Penha ====
[[File:gold trail-penha church on the gold trail_cropped.jpg|thumb|Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Penha]]
This church is unique in that it was built on top of a huge boulder in the small hamlet of Penha, just outside Paraty. The church is located directly across from the Tourist Information Center at the trail-head of the Caminho do Ouro.