Church of Our Lady of Lapa dos Mercadores, 18th-century Catholic church in Centro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Church of Our Lady of Lapa dos Mercadores is an 18th-century place of worship in Rio de Janeiro featuring richly decorated interiors throughout. The main chapel and interior spaces display gilded altars, marble details, and religious artworks arranged in traditional fashion.
The building was founded in 1743 by local merchants and served as a central gathering place for the trading community in colonial Rio de Janeiro. It sustained significant damage during the 1893 Navy Revolt but has since been restored and continues to stand.
The chapel serves as an active place for Catholic worship and hosts smaller weddings and religious celebrations within the local community. This ongoing spiritual use shapes how people experience and gather in the space today.
The building is located at Rua do Ouvidor 35 in Rio de Janeiro's downtown area and reopened in June 2023 following comprehensive restoration work. Repairs to its bells and clock were part of this renovation, allowing visitors to experience the restored structure today.
The marble statue of Our Lady of Faith adorning the dome experienced remarkably minimal damage during the 1893 Navy Revolt despite the building suffering heavily. This survival stands out given the scale of destruction elsewhere in the structure.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
