The history of the temple begins in the 16th century, when Rio de Janeiro was a small village, with buildings concentrated in the region between Morro do Castelo and Morro de São Bento. These two hills were connected by a straight street, which, because of its layout, was soon called Rua 'Direita' da Misericórdia.
With the discovery of gold in Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro began to play a more prominent role on the Brazilian scene. The city's population increased, and its port became the busiest in the country. This growth was soon reflected in the city's buildings, which began to have more big houses, public buildings, and also larger churches. At the same time, the old Ó church began to crumble, and the friars decided to replace it with another temple, which would be the convent church, dedicated to the Virgin under the title of "Nossa Senhora do Carmo". Its construction started in 1761 - almost at the same time as the neighboring Third Order church.
In the year 1808, a new chapter would begin in the history of this church, when the prince regent Dom João VI and his entire court emigrated from Portugal to Brazil, to escape Napoleon Bonaparte's troops.
With the arrival of the Court in Rio, the ample and well located Convento do Carmo was requisitioned to house Queen Dona Maria I and her entourage. The friars who lived there had to pack their bags and move to other places, settling mainly in the church of Nossa Senhora da Lapa (which became known as the Church of "Nossa Senhora do Carmo da Lapa do Desterro.
Throughout the 19th century, famous events took place in this church. For example, it was here that the three oath-taking and royal/imperial coronation ceremonies of Brazil took place: of king Dom João VI in 1818, and of the emperors Dom Pedro I, in 1822 (when the church became the Imperial Chapel), and Dom Pedro II, in 1841. All masses and religious ceremonies of an official character of the Brazilian government were held there until 1889.
Note: at the end of the 1970s, the See of Rio de Janeiro was transferred again to another church, made especially for this purpose, but which is considered one of the ugliest buildings in the city, and unfortunately does not have the same grace and beauty of its predecessor, which became known as the 'Old' See.
Pic - ReneJr
Backside Lipslide
