The church and monastery are dedicated to Our Lady of Monserrate and belongs to the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of São Salvador da Bahia.

Its design, along with that of numerous rural chapels of Bahia, is attributed to the Italian architect Baccio da Filicaia (1565-1628).

[1][2][3][4][5] The Fort and Church of Our Lady of Monserrate sits at a strategic location north of the historic center of Salvador with a view over the Bay of All Saints.

The site, originally called Traripe, was naturally protected by land by the small line of hills in the Itapagipe Peninsula.

[5] The Church and Monastery of Our Lady of Monserrate is located on the small, westernmost point of the Itapagipe Peninsula called Monte Serrat.