Perspectives on the renovation of the Church Nossa Senhora do Carmo da Antiga Sé

Abstract

This work has the purpose of investigating the process of construction of memories related with the historical heritage. Such investigation was based on the case study of the restoration of the church Nossa Senhora do Carmo da Antiga Sé carried on by Rio de Janeiro City Hall in 2008 due to the celebration of 200 Years of the Portuguese Royal Family arrival in Brazil. The choices made, the conflicts and the negotiations regarding the planning and execution of the restoration project are pointed out by the interviews with social actors in connection with the church, and entities responsible for the restoration as well as by the access to the material and documentation originated by and produced for the restoration process. By the analyses of the process of restoration, it is also noted that the church itself gives rise to different perceptions as consequence of it being subject to new uses and meanings, which are connected to museum and tourist practices that resulted from its architecture restoration.