PORTO - Igreja do Carmo (Church of Our Lady of Carmo)

The church, in baroque and rococo style, was built in the second half of the 18th century, between 1756 and 1768 and was built adjacent to the Church of the Carmelitas. As the construction of two churches together was not permitted at the time, the so-called Casa Escondida do Porto was built between them, which separates the two churches and it is just over 1 and a half meters wide. It is considered by local guides as the “Narrowest House in the city of Porto“, and one of the narrowest in the country. For a small amount (3.5 euros) you can visit the House, Church, Catacombs, Noble Hall, Hall of Paraments and Sacristy through Casa Escondida, allowing a glimpse of the rich movable and immovable heritage of the city. Order, which includes paintings, sculptures, liturgical vestments and relics. The façade features, in relief, Saint Anne, to whom the Carmelite Order professed great devotion, because, according to the chronicles, she appeared to a group of Carmelites in early times. She is also the patroness of this church. Two niches flanking the entrance door house images of the prophets Elijah and Elisha, the two most representative models of the Order. On the upper body of the front, coruches and sculptures of the figures of the four Evangelists, revealing influences from the “Italian Baroque” style created by Nicolau Nasoni. The side facade of the Carmo Church is covered by a grand tile panel, representing scenes alluding to the founding of the Carmelite Order and Mount Carmel. Inside the Carmo Church, the excellent gilded carvings in the side chapels and main altar, the statuary and several oil paintings stand out. Its iconographic program is related to the Passion, one of the characteristic themes of the Carmelites. Filmed with SONY RX10M3 and INSTA360 X3 in March 2023. #porto #portugal #portogallo