Capela Dourada, Religious chapel in Santo Antônio neighborhood, Recife, Brazil.
This Franciscan chapel features an interior completely covered with gold leaf applied over carved cedar wood reliefs, creating an ornate baroque ensemble that exemplifies the wealthy artistic expression of 18th-century colonial Brazil through intricate religious craftsmanship.
Construction began in 1696 with the cornerstone laid by Captain General Caetano de Melo Castro and concluded in 1724, requiring twenty-eight years of meticulous work under the direction of Portuguese master builder Antônio Fernandes de Matos and local artisans.
Portuguese azulejo panels adorn the side walls depicting saints and allegorical figures representing virtues such as Faith, Hope, and Charity, demonstrating the fusion between European artistic traditions and Brazilian colonial religious expression within Franciscan spiritual practices.
The chapel opens Monday from 8 AM to 5 PM, Tuesday to Wednesday from 2 PM to 4 PM, Thursday from 8 AM to 12 PM, and Friday from 2 PM to 4 PM, with entrance located on Rua do Imperador Pedro II in Santo Antônio district.
The sacristy preserves furniture carved in rosewood from 1762 and a marble washbasin imported from Estremoz, Portugal, showcasing the luxury and refinement that characterized Franciscan spaces during the colonial period in northeastern Brazil.
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