Take a moment to stop in to this cathedral- it's stunning. No entrance fee, just take off your hat…read moreand follow the rules. Our guide said this cathedral can hold 21,000 people standing and they fill it to capacity when the pope visits. Absolutely stunning architecture!!

We visited this amazing cathedral as part of a city tour in Rio and were amazed!…read more From the exterior you might never guess it's a cathedral based on its unique pyramid shape. We learned the architect was a fan of the Mayan pyramid temples and wanted to build a similarly shaped cathedral. The inside is spacious and massive with so many amazing design details. There is a wonder peaceful and cool stillness inside as well which makes it a great place to sit and collect your thoughts for a little while. We really enjoyed strolling around inside and being in awe of this amazing structure!

Stumbled upon this historic church today during lunch. Its…read moreright on a main street - Av. Passos - and like all older historic churches in the area, the outside is very plain and simple, but the inside is filled with intricate detail wood work. Even if you are not Catholic, I highly recommend entering and checking out the amazing design of this church that was built in 1820. The interior is dark and not as bright as the Igreja do Carmo, but its still beautiful. Always lovely to find these historic treasures in downtown Rio.

We had an overnight cruise stop in Rio de Janeiro and booked a private tour the second day so we…read morecould see more of the city (historic district focused). One of our last stops was to the top of the hill to the Monastery- a service was just finishing up so we were able to get a couple photos before we left. So beautiful! There is a school here that goes all the way thru college. Very peaceful place.

The Presbyterian Cathedral of Rio de Janeiro is a historic congregation of the Presbyterian Church…read moreof Brasil, and was the first Presbyterian church in the country. Less ornate than its Catholic counterpart, but still architecturally ornate from pews to pulpit the Cathedral warrants a look if one is nearby but does not warrant a side trip for any but the devout.

Absolutely gorgeous church, much prefer this to the San Bento Monastery. Breathtaking architecture,…read moreart and sculptures all in one place. Free admission, though donations accepted. In close proximity to other Centro attractions such as Real Gabinete, Confeiteria Colombo, and the Theatro Municipal. Well worth a visit.

Another historic location worth a visit in downtown Rio. It used to be the Cathedral of Rio until…read morethe 70s, and I beleive was built in the 1600s . it is a historic location, used for all religious services when the royal family was in Rio. The interior of the church is beautiful with tons of detail work. there are gold detailing and just breath taking. They offer tours in the mornings and they have a special collections area to visit as well. Besides the main church, they have a side chapel.