ChurchofSãoFranciscodePaula

On Largo São Francisco de Paula, in Rio's Centro, is located the Church of São Francisco de Paula, one of the city's largest Catholic temples.

The history of the church's construction is long and began in 1756, when the then bishop D. Antônio do Desterro, a devotee of São Francisco de Paula, instituted the cult of the saint in Rio de Janeiro, creating the Venerável Ordem Terceira dos Mínimos de São Francisco de Paula. Initially the Order was housed in the Igreja de Santa Cruz dos Militares and, once the plot of land at Largo da Sé Nova (the former name of Largo de São Francisco) was obtained, construction of the church began, its cornerstone being laid in 1759. The work was completed in 1801; however, it was only in 1865, in a ceremony attended by Emperor D. Pedro II and Empress D. Teresa Cristina, that the church was officially inaugurated.

Image taken from the National Library

Image description: This is a black-and-white photograph of a historic church. On the left side, we see a smaller building, while the center and right are occupied by the majestic facade of the church. The church has two side towers with domes and crosses on top. In front, there is a central portal with an arch and side windows. To the right of the portal, there is a prominent statue. In the foreground, we see a square with people walking. The sky is clear, and the horizon shows some distant buildings.

The temple is formed by two large towers, each with a clock and a bell. Its interior is entirely covered in sumptuous wood carving that blends the Baroque and Neoclassical styles, the authorship of which is attributed to Valentim da Fonseca e Silva, the celebrated Mestre Valentim. There are also works by Antônio de Pádua Castro, such as the carved wooden main door. Inside the church is the chapel of Nossa Senhora das Vitórias, likewise carved by Mestre Valentim and featuring paintings by Miguel da Cunha, a freed painter who purchased his freedom with the payment he received for his artistic works.

Photo of the interior of the church

Image description: This is a photograph of the Church of São Francisco de Paula. The image shows the interior of the church, with detailed baroque architecture. From left to right, we see ornate columns and tall windows letting in light. In the center, there is a majestic altar with many sculptural details. In front of the altar, there is a red platform covered with white flowers. Along the sides are decorative vases with white flowers. The ceiling is arched, with hanging chandeliers illuminating the space.

On the left side of the church stood the Hospital of the Third Order of the Minims of São Francisco de Paula (1814), which was moved to Tijuca in the early twentieth century. In 1911, on the very site where the hospital had stood, the Parc Royal was established, one of the first department stores in Rio de Janeiro. The store was completely destroyed by a fire in 1943, which unbelievably did not reach the church. The area was expropriated by the city government, and the space remains vacant to this day.

Photo of the interior of the church

Image description: This is a photograph of a church, viewed from the main aisle toward the altar. On the left and right, we see ornate columns with gold details. In the center, wooden pews are arranged in rows, with a red carpet running down the middle. The arched ceiling features blue and gold lights, illuminating the space. In the background, the altar is decorated with images and statues, also in gold.

Due to its immense architectural beauty and historical significance, the imposing Church of São Francisco de Paula, listed as a heritage site by the National Institute of Historic and Artistic Heritage (IPHAN) in 1938, is well worth a visit.