Founded in 1590 by Benedictine monks from Bahia, this is one of the oldest colonial sites in Rio de Janeiro. The church construction began in 1633. Built with stolen labor of captured Africans and financed through sugarcane production, the…

Across from Praça XV, there are two old churches side-by-side. The 3rd Order of Carmo is the one on the right, if you are facing the churches. The church was constructed between 1755-1770, though the bell towers were not completed until the 1840s.…

The two wood carved statues and the cast chandelier, now on display in the permanent collection at the National History Museum, were created by Mestre Valentim during the period of 1801-1812 as part of the Brotherhood of the Holy Cross of the…