Metropolitan Cathedral of Brasília

Brasília, DF, Brazil

The Metropolitan Cathedral of Brasília (Catedral Metropolitana Nossa Senhora Aparecida) is a striking symbol of modernist architecture and spiritual aspiration, designed by the legendary Oscar Niemeyer and completed in 1970. Located in the heart of Brazil’s capital, this Roman Catholic cathedral serves as the seat of the Archdiocese of Brasília and stands as one of the city’s most iconic landmarks.

Its design is a bold hyperboloid structure formed by 16 curved concrete columns, each weighing 90 tons, that soar skyward like hands in prayer. Between these columns, massive glass panels allow natural light to flood the interior, creating a celestial atmosphere enhanced by a suspended trio of angel sculptures and a stained-glass ceiling in hues of blue, green, and white, designed by Marianne Peretti.

Visitors enter the cathedral through a tunnel beneath a shallow reflecting pool, emerging into a luminous sanctuary that can accommodate up to 4,000 people. Outside, bronze statues of the four Evangelists and a 20-meter bell tower add to the cathedral’s grandeur.