ESTÁCIO DE SÁ EXALTAÇÃO

"Pavilhão do Amor" (Pavilion of Love) is the definitive Exaltação (Exaltation Anthem) of Estácio de Sá, a school that carries the immense historical weight of being the "Berço do Samba" (Cradle of Samba). The song is a stirring tribute to the school's red-and-white flag and its origins in the iconic Morro de São Carlos. 

Its lyrics serve as a romantic and fierce declaration of loyalty, framing the school not just as a musical institution, but as a sacred shelter—a pavilion—where the community’s joys and sorrows are transformed into art. It is a song that celebrates the survival of the Estácio identity through decades of Carnival evolution.

In the ritual of the parade, this hymn is the emotional spark that ignites the "Bateria Medalha de Ouro" (Gold Medal Drums) during the warm-up. As the "pavilhão" (the flag) is presented to the public, the singing of this anthem creates a bridge between the legendary sambistas of the 1920s, like Ismael Silva, and the modern-day components. It is a moment of deep ancestral pride, asserting that the red-and-white colors represent the very heartbeat of Rio’s urban culture. For the Estácio community, singing "Pavilhão do Amor" is an act of reclaiming their throne as the foundational stone upon which all of Samba was built.

Trivia: The lyrics specifically mention the "São Carlos" hill, reinforcing the school's unbreakable bond with its home territory, even during the years the school faced relegation to the lower groups.