IgrejadeNossaSenhoradoMontedoCarmo

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Founded by the brothers of the Third Order of Nossa Senhora do Monte do Carmo, the Igreja de Nossa Senhora do Monte do Carmo (often called simply Igreja da Terceira Ordem do Carmo) is located next to another church belonging to the Carmelite convent (hence known as the conventual church), the Igreja de Nossa Senhora do Carmo da Antiga Sé – which served as the city's cathedral from 1808 until the inauguration of the Metropolitan Cathedral in 1976.

Image description: This is a photograph of a church located in São Paulo, Brazil. The church has a classic façade with two side towers decorated with colorful tiles. On the left, we see a smaller tower with a bell and a cross on top. On the right, there is another, larger tower with a bell and a cross as well. Both towers have ornate architectural details. At the bottom of the façade, there is a main entrance with statues and a decorated portal. In the background, we see modern buildings and a tree on the right. The sky is blue with a few clouds.

When the Third Order was founded, in 1648, it held its masses inside the conventual church. But with the growth of the brotherhood, in 1749 the order received, as a donation, the land next to the Church of Carmo to build its own chapel. It was common, in this period, for the churches of third orders to be built next to the conventual churches.

Construction work began after some years of debate with the Carmelite friars, who feared for the structure of their own church, which was quite deteriorated. Only when the friars began rebuilding the convent church was the foundation stone of the Igreja de Nossa Senhora do Monte do Carmo laid, in 1755.

The first Mass -- which marked the temple's inauguration -- was held in 1770, but the church was only fully completed in 1855, with the completion of its twin towers. The church's structure before its completion can be seen in several illustrations of the Largo do Paço, made in the first half of the 19th century. With a sumptuous and imposing façade, the Igreja de Nossa Senhora do Monte do Carmo has an entrance portal made of lioz marble, topped by a marble medallion with the image of Nossa Senhora do Carmo.

Image description: This is a photograph of an architectural detail from a church. The image shows a portion of the façade with decorative relief elements. From left to right, we see ornamental details that include curvilinear and sculpted elements. In the center, there is a circle containing a religious figure in relief, depicting a scene with human figures. Above and below this circle, there are further ornamental details that repeat symmetrically. The background is composed of brickwork stones, giving the image a light gray tone. There is no visible text in the image.

The frontispiece is made of stonework and has a Baroque style. The towers – identical – house three bells with arched openings on all four sides, and, at the top, each one has a balustrade and domes covered in blue tiles, topped by small crosses.

Image description: This is a photograph of a church. The image shows the main façade of the Church of Nossa Senhora do Monte do Carmo, highlighting the central portal and the two side towers. From left to right, we see the leftmost tower, followed by the central tower with a large cross on its dome. On the right, there is another tower with a bell visible through a window. The central portal features a clock and ornamental details. The clear blue sky is above, and sunlight illuminates the structure.

The interior of the church is made of carved wood, with works by Antonio de Padua Castro and Luiz da Fonseca Rosa – the latter one of the mentors of Mestre Valentim, who in turn also worked on the interior decoration of the church. The main altar has its frontal and liturgical elements made of silver. The Novitiate Chapel (next to the main altar), on the other hand, has images of Nossa Senhora do Carmo and Nossa Senhora das Dores, as well as a small choir with an organ and paintings with sacred motifs. Many pieces in this chapel are the work of Mestre Valentim. Between the former Sé and the church of the Ordem Terceira, there is a private corridor, which makes it easier for the friars and brothers to move between one chapel and the other.

Image description: This is a photograph of a church interior, specifically the Igreja de Nossa Senhora do Monte do Carmo. The image shows a wide view of the main altar, with elaborate ornamental details. On the left side, we see wooden pews and a column decorated with baroque elements. On the right, there are more pews and a structure similar to the one on the opposite side. In the center, the altar is adorned with religious images and statues, with a large cross at the top. The ceiling is rounded and covered with golden ornaments. The walls are richly decorated with sculptural details and paintings.

One of the architectural jewels of Rio's Baroque style, the Igreja de Nossa Senhora do Monte do Carmo was designated a historical heritage site by IPHAN in 1938, but it has been closed since 2019 due to the deterioration of its structure.

In February 2023, the Ordem Terceira was warned by IPHAN that the chapel, which holds treasures of architecture and sacred art inside it, was at serious risk of fire and structural collapse. After the warning, the order's general secretariat began studying the possibilities for restoring the church.

Image description: The image shows three logos arranged horizontally, from left to right. The first logo, on the left, is blue and white with the text "RIO CAPITAL DO G20 BRASIL 2024" and a colorful symbol. In the center, there is a blue logo with the text "RIO PREFEITURA TURISMO". On the right, an orange logo with the text "RIO MEMÓRIAS". All letters are uppercase and the background is white.