Gazing at the Gloria church lit up at night is a testimonial of the antique times of Imperialism! Dressed in Portuguese tiles, this baroque historical monument is considered one of Brazil’s most beautiful churches.

The Gloria church is located on a small hill top in Rio de Janeiro, where it revived hope and Christianity for the sailors and ships sailing into the Guanabara bay back in 1670. The first version of the church was nothing more than a small white chapel built by Antonio Caminha. The second church, built in 1714 – 1739, is the Outeira da Gloria the church as we know it today with a single tower and the limestone doorway.

The church had always been a popular place for worshipping, but the Gloria church made it’s mark in history with the arrival of Dom Joao VI, the regent of Portugal, as he flied from the persisting danger of Napoleons armies.

Dom Joao showed great devotion to the church and baptized his firstborn child here, Princess Dona Maria da Gloria. The tradition continued with the baptizing of Emperor Dom Pedro the first’s child and several others in the royal family.

At it’s time, the church was innovatively designed with a layout as two intertwined octagonal prisms giving the church an almost round look. Inside the church, you’ll find a simple decoration with only three altars and three statues of Nossa Senhora da Gloria. At the entrance you’ll see two striking Portuguese limestone fonts from the 18th century.

Today the Gloria church of Rio de Janeiro gives a spectacular view of the marvellous city! You can overlook Praca Paris, the Gloria Marina and the Flamingo park.

To get here you need to take a taxi to the following address:

Praca Nossa Senhora da Gloria 135, Gloria, 22211-110

Visiting hours:
Monday to Friday 9 am.- 12 noon and 13 pm. – 17 pm.
Saturday to Sunday 8 am. – 12 noon.

Right behind the church you’ll also find the Sacred Art Museum open to the public.

From Gloria Church to Rio-de-Janeiro.info