Capela Dourada (Golden Chapel), Recife

The Golden Chapel, known in Portuguese as Capela Dourada, was built between 1696 and 1724 by the Third Order of Saint Francis as part of a larger Franciscan complex. It served as a private place of worship for members of this lay brotherhood, reflecting their position within colonial society. Its design follows Baroque traditions introduced from Portugal, combined with techniques and materials developed by local artisans.

The exterior is restrained, giving little indication of the interior. Inside, carved wood covered in gold leaf fills the walls, ceilings, and altars with floral motifs, angels, and religious symbols. The main altar forms the central focus, while some alcoves contain life-sized saint dioramas, including the Lord of the Steps, a rock image set with rubies, noted for its intense realism.

In the sacristy, the walls are lined with Portuguese azulejo tiles depicting moral and religious scenes. The room also contains large cabinets carved from jacaranda wood, rising to about three meters, and a stone washbasin brought from Estremoz in Portugal. Nearby, in the Church of the Third Order, a painting of the crucifixion of Franciscan monks shows executioners whose faces have been gradually scratched away by devotees, reflecting acts of protest and devotion over time.