Old Cathedral of Rio de Janeiro, 18th-century Catholic church in Centro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
The Old Cathedral of Rio de Janeiro, dedicated to Our Lady of Mount Carmel, stands on Praça XV in Centro. Its tan stone facade is asymmetric: a central body with three tall arched windows and a statue of Saint Sebastian above the middle window, flanked by a tall tower with two clock faces and a shorter tower, both topped by domed cupolas. Only the ground floor, with three Lisbon-style Pombaline portals, survives from the original design.
Construction of the present church began around 1761 under Manuel Alves Setúbal, and it was consecrated in 1770 with the façade unfinished. In 1808 the arrival of the Portuguese court turned it into the Royal Chapel and soon the cathedral of Rio de Janeiro. The Neoclassical pediment was added around 1822 by Pedro Alexandre Cavroé, and the church remained the city's cathedral until 1976.
The church is also called Antiga Sé, the Old See, because it was Rio's cathedral until 1976. Its seven bells include two dated 1623; one was cast in 1822 by João Batista Jardineiro with the arms of the Portuguese royal family and the inscription D. João VI.
The church holds regular services and welcomes visitors during its open hours, with QR codes available for digital donations and information about worship times. Plan your visit around service schedules and observe respectful conduct while inside.
The coronation Masses of Pedro I in 1822 and Pedro II in 1841, both held here, are the only two Christian coronation rites ever celebrated in South America. The church also kept the title of cathedral until 1976, when the new Cathedral of São Sebastião was inaugurated.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 92,892 contributors worldwide.
