church · Paraty, RJ
Igreja de Santa Rita
An 18th-century church with a white facade and stone details, one of the most photographed buildings in Paraty because it faces the pier. It houses a collection of the region's sacred art.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Igreja de Santa Rita
The Igreja de Santa Rita is Paraty's best-known image. White, with its tower to one side and green hills behind, it stands close to the pier, at the edge of the bay, and appears in almost every photo of the town taken from the water.
It was built from 1722 by freed pardos, the town's free population of African descent, and housed the brotherhood of Santa Rita. It's made of stone and lime, with a single nave and a curved pediment, in the style of colonial churches on the coast. It was listed by Iphan in 1962.
Inside, the highlights are the carved wooden galleries and the high altar with twisted columns. Since the 1970s the church has housed Paraty's Museu de Arte Sacra, with statues, silver pieces and religious objects from the town's churches.
The visit is short and relaxed, easy to fit into a walk through the Historic Center. The square in front has uneven stone paving, which requires care if you have difficulty walking.
Before you go
Practical information
How much time to set aside
Half an hour is enough to see the church from outside, visit the museum and photograph the square and the bay.
Best time
Late afternoon is the best time for photos, with golden light on the white facade and the bay alongside. Early in the morning the square is emptier.
How to get there
It's on Largo de Santa Rita, in Paraty's Historic Center, a few steps from the pier. The historic center is closed to cars: leave your car in one of the parking lots on the edge and continue on foot.
Tip
For the classic photo, walk out to the pier and look back at the town: the church appears with the boats in front and the mountains behind.
A look at the place
Igreja de Santa Rita in pictures
These pictures are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs. They may differ from the place.
Click the picture to enlarge it.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Igreja de Santa Rita
Is there an entrance fee for the Igreja de Santa Rita?
Yes. The church operates as Paraty's Museu de Arte Sacra and admission is charged. Check the hours before you go.
What's inside the Igreja de Santa Rita?
Paraty's Museu de Arte Sacra, with statues of saints, silver pieces and objects from the town's churches, plus the wooden galleries and the high altar.
Who built the Igreja de Santa Rita?
Paraty's freed pardos (people of mixed African descent), starting in 1722. That's why it's also called the Igreja de Santa Rita dos Pardos Libertos.
How long does the visit take?
About half an hour, including the museum and the square in front.
What's the best spot to photograph the church?
From the pier, looking back at the town, with the boats in front and the hills behind. Late afternoon has the best light.