Exploring the Paths of Faith in Rio de Janeiro

Rio de Janeiro is a state of strong spirituality. It is no coincidence that its main postcard is the Christ the Redeemer, which embraces and welcomes, from the heights of Corcovado, all faiths and creeds. The city’s religious tourist attractions receive thousands of visitors every year to satisfy their spiritual needs and provide the experience of cultural and historical enrichment of Rio. Spaces listed by IPHAN, the temples become symbols for the practice of faith by pilgrims from various parts of Rio, Brazil, and abroad, greeting those who arrive with a valuable offering of Religious Art.Catedral Metropolitana de São Sebastião do Rio de JaneiroThe social, cultural, and religious monument was inspired by the pyramid of Chichén Itza – a work of the Mayan civilization located in Mexico. However, it has a circular and conical shape. In the basement, there is the Museum of Religious Art, highlighting the baptismal font used to baptize the princes of the Royal Family, the statue of Our Lady of the Rosary, the throne of D. Pedro II, and the Golden Rose granted to Princess Isabel by Pope Leo XIII in celebration of the signing of the Golden Law, which abolished slavery in Brazil.Igreja Matriz de Nossa Senhora da CandeláriaBuilt at the end of the 16th century or the beginning of the 17th, in neoclassical style, the church stands out visually for its dome, made of lioz stone. Its interior is completely covered in marble, and the ceiling of the nave, illustrated by six panels from the artist Zeferino da Costa, tells the origins of the church. The side chapels are dedicated to the Blessed Sacrament and Our Lady of Sorrows.Mosteiro de São BentoLocated at the top of Morro de São Bento, next to Praça Mauá, the architectural ensemble includes the Abbey Church of Our Lady of Montserrat, considered one of the most important historical and religious heritage sites of the 17th century. Its exterior appearance is austere and contrasts with the richness of its interior: the baroque carvings gilded with 18-carat gold; the main altar and its silver lamps house in the center the image of the head of the Order flanked by Saint Benedict and Saint Scholastica.Igreja de Nossa Senhora do Outeiro da GlóriaConsidered one of the most expressive heritages of colonial and religious architecture, the Church of Our Lady of Glory of Outeiro was declared a national monument in 1937 and, in the following year, listed by the National Institute of Historical and Artistic Heritage (IPHAN). The site has historical importance for the people of Rio because, in the past, it was a strategic point taken from the French by Estácio de Sá, who, despite being victorious in battle, died poisoned by an arrow.Source: Riotour