Igreja do Carmo is one of the must-see churches in the Portuguese city Porto, famous for its catholic architecture. Carmo Church is situated on the corner of Praça de Carlos Alberto and Rua Carma.

At first glance, it seems like one building, but the catch is that these are two different churches - Igreja dos Carmelitas and Igreja do Carmo itself. The churches are even separated by the thinnest house in the world which is only one meter wide! Of course, there are various rumors and legends surrounding the reason for its construction. One of the most popular ones is that the two churches are not allowed to share the same wall and the border helped to prevent the communication between monks and nuns of both churches. Igreja dos Carmelitas features a classical facade and a bell tower. Its erection dates back to the 17th century when it was a part of the convent for the Carmelite order of the Roman Catholic church.

Igreja do Carmo was built in the 18th century, has a neoclassical facade with the figure of Saint Anne, who is referred to as Nossa Senhora and was told to appear in front of Carmelites. The layout belongs to the hand of Nicolau Nasoni, an architect who participated in creating sundry Porto's religious buildings. Another essential detail of Carmo Church's exterior is a breathtaking mosaic, added to its side in 1912. Made of classical Portuguese white-and-blue azulejo tiles, the artwork demonstrates the scene of Carmelite order's founding. The scene was designed by Silvestro Silvestri, painted by Carlos Branca and crafted at the factory in Vila Nova de Gaia. The interior of both churches is the perfect example of rococo and baroque architectural styles with gilded woodcarvings and rich decorations. The older part of the church, built with a single nave, contains seven altars, made by Francisco Pereira Campanhã.

The last but not the least, Carmo Church is located in stone's throw from other recognized landmarks of Porto, such as Clerigos Tower, Cordoaria Garden, and Livraria Lello! So, if you happen to be in Porto, don't miss a chance and visit unique church Igreja do Carmo!