The Church of Nossa Senhora da Glória do Outeiro, or Imperial Church of Nossa Senhora da Glória do Outeiro, better known simply as Igreja da Glória, stands on top of Outeiro da Glória, in the Glória neighborhood, in the city of Rio de Janeiro. , in Brazil. It is considered one of the jewels of colonial architecture in Brazil and one of the most characteristic monuments in the city. Given its elevated location, it is easily visible from Aterro do Flamengo and surroundings.

Architecture and Decoration
The Igreja da Glória has its origins in a small chapel from the 17th century built on land donated to the Irmandade da Glória in 1699 by Cláudio do Amaral Gurgel. It is not known exactly when the construction of the church began, but it is known for certain that it was inaugurated in 1739. It is considered likely that it began in the 1730s, although some believe that the works began as early as 1714. Oral tradition attributes the project to Portuguese lieutenant colonel and military engineer José Cardoso Ramalho, but there are no documents confirming the authorship. The stone used in the construction of the church came from Pedreira da Glória, on Morro da Nova Sintra, in the Catete district. The church floor plan is composed of two octagons, which gives it the shape of an “8”. The curved spaces – especially elliptical – are a typical form of the Baroque and debut in the architecture of Rio in this church. One of the octagons is occupied by the curved nave of the church, while the other is occupied by the sacristy. The interior of the nave conveys a feeling of monumentality, thanks to the ashlar pilasters and the vaulted ceiling.

The lower parts of the nave are covered with magnificent panels of white-blue Lisbon tiles, made between 1735 and 1740 in the workshop of Mestre Valentim de Almeida, with biblical themes, recently restored. The sacristy is also lined with tiles, but with profane themes (hunting scenes). The church has three good rococo altars, dating from the transition between the 18th and 19th centuries. Above the cross arch of the chancel is the coat of arms of the Brazilian Imperial Family.

The exterior of the Igreja da Glória has a characteristic profile, with the two octagonal bodies preceded by a quadrangular tower crowned with an onion-shaped dome. The first floor of the tower has a galilee – a vaulted space – through which the church is entered through a portal with a medallion representing the Virgin and Child. This portal and two others are carved in lioz stone and were brought from Lisbon in the second half of the 18th century.

Imperial Chapel
After their arrival in Rio de Janeiro in 1808, the Portuguese Royal Family took a special predilection for the Igrejinha da Glória. In the church, in 1819, the first daughter of Dom Pedro I and Dona Leopoldina, Princess Maria da Glória, the future Queen Maria II of Portugal, was baptized. From then on, all members of the Imperial Family were baptized at Igreja da Glória, including Dom Pedro II and Princess Isabel. In 1839, Dom Pedro II granted the title of “imperial” to the brotherhood, which became known, from then on, as “Imperial Brotherhood of Nossa Senhora da Glória do Outeiro”.

It is listed by the Instituto do Patrimônio Histórico e Artístico Nacional.

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Church of Our Lady of the Glory of the Outeiro

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Church of Our Lady of the Glory of the Outeiro

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