church · Brasília, DF
Catedral Metropolitana de Brasília
Sixteen concrete columns open like hands in prayer, and the interior is bathed in light from Marianne Peretti's colorful stained glass. The underground entrance sets up the effect.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Catedral Metropolitana de Brasília
The Catedral Metropolitana Nossa Senhora Aparecida, Brasília's Cathedral, is one of Oscar Niemeyer's best-known works. It stands at the start of the Esplanada dos Ministérios, on the Eixo Monumental, and is still an active church, with Masses, weddings and baptisms.
The cornerstone was laid in 1958 and the structure was completed in 1960, with structural engineering by Joaquim Cardozo. It was officially inaugurated in 1970. Sixteen identical concrete columns, arranged in a circle, open toward the sky; many people see hands in prayer, others a crown of thorns.
Outside, the nave is surrounded by a shallow reflecting pool and accompanied by a separate bell tower with four bells. You enter through a shaded ramp that goes down below ground level: the floor of the nave is a few meters below the plaza. Inside, light comes through Marianne Peretti's colorful stained glass, in shades of blue, green and white, and three bronze angels by Alfredo Ceschiatti hang from cables. In front of the entrance stand the sculptures of the four Evangelists, also by Ceschiatti.
Admission is free. Visits are not allowed during services, so check Mass and visiting times on the official website before you go.
Before you go
Practical information
How much time to set aside
Half an hour to an hour is enough to see the cathedral from outside, go down the ramp and spend some time looking at the stained glass inside.
Best time
On a sunny day, around midday, the stained glass is at its most vivid and colored light fills the nave; in the dry season, from May to September, the sky is usually clear for outside photos, and late afternoon is lovely for the exterior.
How to get there
It is on the Esplanada dos Ministérios, on the Eixo Monumental, near the Rodoviária do Plano Piloto (central bus station), a short walk away. There is parking next to it; buses, the metro to the Rodoviária, taxis and ride-hailing apps also serve it.
Tip
Avoid arriving during Mass, when visits are suspended, and combine the visit with the National Congress and the Palácio Itamaraty, on the same Esplanada.
Official website
A look at the place
Catedral Metropolitana de Brasília in pictures
These pictures are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs. They may differ from the place.
Click the picture to enlarge it.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Catedral Metropolitana de Brasília
Is there an entrance fee at the Brasília Cathedral?
No. Admission is free.
Can you visit during Mass?
No. During Masses, weddings and baptisms, visits are suspended. Check the times on the official website.
How long does the visit take?
Half an hour to an hour is enough to see the cathedral outside and in.
Can you walk there from the Rodoviária?
Yes. The cathedral is near the Rodoviária do Plano Piloto (central bus station), a short walk along the Esplanada dos Ministérios.
Who designed the Brasília Cathedral?
Oscar Niemeyer, with structural engineering by Joaquim Cardozo. The stained glass is by Marianne Peretti, and the angels and Evangelists are by Alfredo Ceschiatti.