Visit the Convent of St. Anthony to see one of the most striking buildings in the heart of Rio de Janeiro. The convent is located next to the Baroque-style Church of the Third Order of St. Francis of Penance, another beautiful building dating to the Portuguese colonization of Brazil. Both buildings contain noteworthy religious artworks, including terracotta sculptures and oil paintings.
Admire the original chapels located around the convent’s great cloister. One of the chapels, Our Lady of Sorrows, features an elaborate altarpiece with seven paintings depicting the seven sorrows of Mary. The other internal chapels are Our Lady of Consolation, the birth of St. Francis, the death of St. Francis and São Joaquim.
The first floor also contains a spacious living area, the Chapter Room. Notice paintings depicting St. Augustine, St. Ambrose, St. Jerome and other saints on the walls. The ornate hall also contains a precious crucifix and paintings representing the Virgin of Sorrows and John the Evangelist.
Other fascinating areas include the dining room, which displays five large oil paintings and another crucifix. The Imperial Mausoleum, one of the convent’s more recent constructions, contains the remains of notable Brazilian religious and political figures.
The original convent was founded by Franciscan Friar Vicente do Salvador and constructed in the early 17th century. Friar Salvador is also known for writing Brazil’s first history and regarded as the father of Brazilian historiography. Find the Convent of St. Anthony on the Santo Antônio Hill in the heart of Rio de Janeiro. The convent is open daily for religious services and can be visited when the schedule permits.
Book a walking tour of Carioca Square to explore the historic Convent of St. Anthony and the ornate Church of the Third Order of St. Francis of Penance.
