Churches in Rio

Rio has an impressive number of old churches, some on the same block or just across the street from each other. My morning and afternoon commute walk through the old “Centro” district takes me past 8 or 10 amazing architectural beauties.

Built in the 1600s, 1700s and 1800s these churches are incredible Brazilian baroque, rococo, neoclassical and eclectic masterpieces. The wood carvings, marble and other stone work, paintings and cast iron doors are amazing.

I’ve put together a slide show of shots taken at a few of the churches I walk past each day. For the record, the churches in the pictures include: Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Lapa dos Mercadores, Igreja de Santa Cruz dos Militares, Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Candelária (THE old cathedral of Rio), Mosteiro de São Bento (the amazing baroque and rococo shots at the end of the slide show are all from here) and another Nossa Senhora something or other – I’ll have to go back and check.

You could spend a month checking out the all churches in town.