The paper examines the formation process of Candomblé communities in Rio de Janeiro, since the late nineteenth century. Starting from a division of this process into four stages, we propose three types of (dis)continuity for the trajectories of these communities. We also analyze the distribution of these communities in the Rio de Janeiro territory and the architectural typology that results from physical environment reconfiguration practices which are less morphological and more structural. Finally, we discuss the condition of these communities as cultural heritage and their place in the process of preservation of sites, buildings and objects related to the African lineage in Rio de Janeiro.
terreiro; Candomblé; African-Brazilian religions; Rio de Janeiro.