Igreja da Ordem Terceira do Carmo, Colonial church in downtown São Paulo, Brazil
Igreja do Carmo is a colonial church in downtown São Paulo built with rammed earth construction. The building features a three-arched facade and contains interior decorative elements characteristic of Portuguese colonial architecture.
The present structure was built between 1747 and 1758 and replaced an earlier chapel next to the Convento do Carmo that had existed since 1592. The new building was part of the expansion of religious structures in the growing city during Portugal's colonial period.
The church displays ceiling paintings by Friar Jesuíno do Monte Carmelo that reflect the rococo period. Visitors can also see wooden panels from the former Santa Teresa convent, which connect the space to the early monastic community.
The church is open to visitors on weekday mornings and early afternoons. It is located in the city center at an accessible spot, so plan your visit for a weekday when access is more available.
A piece of imperial Brazilian daily life is preserved in a simple chair that Emperor Pedro II used during a visit and which remains kept in the church. This object shows how secular and religious spheres intersected during the monarchy period.
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