Sunday, February 2, 2020

Church of Saint Francis of Assisi, BH - Brazil

When I went to the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais I visited 3 UNESCO sites, one of which is the Pampulha Modern Ensemble, which includes the Church of Saint Francis of Assisi. I must say that it didn't impress me mucg, especially after having seen the beautiful churches of Ouro Preto, São João del Rei and other places. Once again it was confirmed that modern architecture is not my thing.
As for these postcards, they were sent by Renata and Luciano.


The Church of Saint Francis of Assisi is a chapel in Pampulha region of Belo Horizonte, in the state of Minas Gerais, southeastern Brazil. It was designed by the Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer in the organic modern style. It is the first listed modern architectural monument in Brazil and consists of four undulating concrete parabolas with outdoor mosaics. The interior hosts a mural by Candido Portinari, and the exterior features a landscape designed by Roberto Burle Marx.

Foto: Sérgio Mourão
The curved lines of the church enchanted artists and architects, but scandalized the city's conservative culture. Despite its completion in 1943 and Juscelino Kubitschek's call for its consecration, the church was not consecrated until 1959. For 14 years, the ecclesiastical authorities, led by Antonio dos Santos Cabral, prohibited the chapel from providing Catholic services.
As of July 2016, the church is classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, part of the Pampulha Modern Ensemble, a collection of Niemeyer buildings in Pampulha. - in: wikipedia

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