Mosteiro de São Bento, Benedictine monastery in Centro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
The Mosteiro de São Bento is a Benedictine monastery in Centro, Rio de Janeiro, built during the colonial period with Portuguese architectural influences. Inside, wooden carvings decorate the walls and ceiling, ornate altars fill the space, and a pipe organ sits ready for liturgical music.
Two monks from Bahia founded the monastery in 1590, making it the second religious community to establish itself in Rio de Janeiro. Over four centuries, it remained a center of Benedictine life and shaped the city's religious landscape.
The name comes from Saint Benedict, the founder of the Benedictine order whose spiritual tradition has remained alive in the building for centuries. Visitors can see spaces shaped by generations of monks that still maintain a sense of quietness today.
The monastery is open daily from early morning until evening and welcomes visitors who wear respectful clothing and observe silence during services. There are stairs and different levels inside, so visitors should be prepared for some walking and wear comfortable shoes.
Every Sunday at 10 AM the monastery celebrates mass with organ music and Gregorian chants, a service found nowhere else in Rio de Janeiro. This traditional liturgical practice draws both believers and music lovers seeking this rare experience that exists nowhere else in the city.
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