Igreja Nossa Senhora do Carmo da Antiga Sé
Igreja Nossa Senhora do Carmo da Antiga Sé
Igreja Nossa Senhora do Carmo da Antiga Sé
4.5
7:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Monday
7:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday
7:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday
7:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday
7:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday
7:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturday
9:30 AM - 12:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
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The area
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Neighborhood: Centro
Downtown Rio is the place where this city was born. With modern skyscrapers sharing space with historical buildings and landmarks, this neighbourhood is living proof that the old and the new can live together harmoniously. As you would expect, downtown is where all major companies house their offices. However, the region isn’t restricted to businesses. Gems such like the “Paço Imperial,” which is a cultural centre that used to serve as a residence for governors of Brazil, can be found here. Pedra do Sal, a Monday night street party, is also in this neighbourhood. This landmark is the birthplace of samba and is famous for its “roda de sambas” (“dance circles”). Stop in for one and get closer to discovering where Brazilian happiness comes from.
How to get there
- Carioca • 7 min walk
- Uruguai • 8 min walk
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1,849 within 3 miles
Attractions
645 within 6 miles
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
4.5
58 reviews
Excellent
41
Very good
15
Average
2
Poor
0
Terrible
0
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BernardoBGuimaraes
Rio de Janeiro, RJ469 contributions
Dec 2023 • Couples
Beautiful church, well maintained, with a receptionist at the entrance who sells souvenirs. It is not very wide, but quite long and, on the left side of its end, there is the Chapel of the Santíssimo. Members of the Imperial Family of Brazil attended this church. Interestingly, there is another door next to the entrance, but from another church and which was closed and looked abandoned: it is the Church of the Third Order of Nossa Senhora do Monte do Carmo.
Written December 30, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hermes_NL 🇳🇱
Amsterdam, The Netherlands21,534 contributions
Jan 2019 • Family
The Antiga Se or Ancient See is a lovely rococo style church in Rio's old city centre, built for the Carmelite order from 1761-1770. Between 1808 and 1976 it served as Rio's cathedral. After that is was replaced by the New or Metropolitan Cathedral - an entirely different and much larger structure in naked concrete (Brutalistic style). The Ancient See is still very much worthwhile of a visit!
Written March 4, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
wasmith59
Collierville, TN669 contributions
Jun 2019 • Couples
Walking tour guide brought us by this church. Another of the 200+ churches in Rio de Janeiro. Many have mass every day.
Written June 25, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
westy54
Sydney, Australia13,401 contributions
Nov 2017 • Couples
This historic church, which is located on the opposite side of the road to the Praca Quinze de Novembro and the Praco Imperial, was commenced in the early 1770's and not completed until the early 1820's. The facades were remodeled in the early 20th century.
Its early life was as a Carmelite Church and Convent but with the arrival of the Portuguese Royal Family in 1808 the Carmelite Church was converted into a Royal Chapel and it also became the new Cathedral of Rio. It remained as the Imperial Chapel until 1889 with the overthrow of Emperor Pedro II but remained as the Cathedral of Rio until 1976, when the new Rio de Janeiro Cathedral was completed.
As the Royal/Imperial Chapel it witnessed the coronations of Emperors Pedro I and Pedro II, the only two christian coronations to have taken place in South America. It also witnessed the bestowing of Nuptual Blessings on the two Emperors and their respective wifes plus the wedding of Princess Isabel (who signed the Golden Law abolishing slavery in Brazil).
The structure of the church is a one aisle nave with a series of balconies along the upper walls. The walls, chapels and ceiling are covered with ornate Rococo woodwork and beautiful paintings and there is an abundance of gold leaf decoration.
Well worth a visit.
Its early life was as a Carmelite Church and Convent but with the arrival of the Portuguese Royal Family in 1808 the Carmelite Church was converted into a Royal Chapel and it also became the new Cathedral of Rio. It remained as the Imperial Chapel until 1889 with the overthrow of Emperor Pedro II but remained as the Cathedral of Rio until 1976, when the new Rio de Janeiro Cathedral was completed.
As the Royal/Imperial Chapel it witnessed the coronations of Emperors Pedro I and Pedro II, the only two christian coronations to have taken place in South America. It also witnessed the bestowing of Nuptual Blessings on the two Emperors and their respective wifes plus the wedding of Princess Isabel (who signed the Golden Law abolishing slavery in Brazil).
The structure of the church is a one aisle nave with a series of balconies along the upper walls. The walls, chapels and ceiling are covered with ornate Rococo woodwork and beautiful paintings and there is an abundance of gold leaf decoration.
Well worth a visit.
Written February 28, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LuizDutraNeto
Rio de Janeiro, RJ8,569 contributions
Aug 2016 • Friends
The first Carmelite priests arrived in Rio de Janeiro in 1590 and started the devotion to "Our Lady of Mount Carmel" in the newly established Portuguese colony of Brazil. In 1761, the actual church, in rococo style, had its construction started. Since then, it is one of the most important churches of Rio de Janeiro! It has been appointed "Royal Chapel" in 1808 and later, in 1822, "Imperial Chapel". In its gold leaf gilded interiors, Brazilian Emperors - D. Pedro I and D.. Pedro II, were crowned and all royal and imperial marriages took place. With the Republic, it continued being honored - up to 1976, as the "Cathedral Church of Rio de Janeiro"! Glorious and historical past and a bright future, as it has been recently restored (2008) to its full splendor! A visit is a must and it can be easily combined with visits to nearby "Praça XV" (a lovely historical square) and "Paço Imperial" (the former "Imperial Palace" of the Brazilian monarchy and actually an important cultural center with a busy exhibitions' agenda). They are all in downtown - the old center of Rio - which visiting should be done in groups, principally on weekends, when the area is not so busy. One last curiosity: up to nowadays, the historical "Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel of the Ancient See" is the favorite one for jet set marriages and baptisms! Enjoy!
Written November 16, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Celux
Rivoli, Italy9,709 contributions
May 2023 • Solo
It was the ancient cathedral of Rio. In Rococo style.
The most curious peculiarity is inside, totally shining white with gold decoration.
The most curious peculiarity is inside, totally shining white with gold decoration.
Written September 2, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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