The Candelaria Church

The Candelária Church, Igreja da Candelária, is an important historical Roman Catholic church in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It was built and decorated during a long period, from 1775 to the late 19th century. The church combines a Portuguese colonial Baroque façade with later Neoclassical and Neo-Renaissance interior elements. The Candelária church is a Latin cross church with a dome over the transept. The nave has three aisles and a main chapel in the apse. The whole ensemble may have been inspired by the church at the Convent of Mafra, and in the Estrela Basílica of Lisbon, both in Portugal. The main façade shows Baroque influences in the design of the windows, doors, and towers, as well as neoclassical influences in the bi-dimensionality of the façade and the triangular pediment. The façade contrasts the dark granite of windows, columns and other elements with whitewashed wall segments, a typical characteristic of colonial churches in Rio. A grand historical cathedral stands majestically against a clear blue sky, flanked by modern buildings on either side. The structure features ornate architectural details, including a large central dome and two bell towers.