Church of Saint Francis of Assisi

For similarly named churches, see St. Francis of Assisi Church.
Church of Saint Francis of Assisi
Igreja de Sao Francisco de Assis
Igreja da Pampulha
Church of Saint Francis of Assisi, Pampulha
Church of Saint Francis of Assisi, Pampulha is located in Brazil
Church of Saint Francis of Assisi, Pampulha
Church of Saint Francis of Assisi, Pampulha
Location of Church of Saint Francis of Assisi in Brazil
General information
TypeChurch
Architectural styleModernist
Town or cityBelo Horizonte, Minas Gerais
CountryBrazil
Coordinates19°51′30″S 43°58′44″W / 19.85833°S 43.97889°W / -19.85833; -43.97889
Completed1943
AffiliationRoman Catholic Archdiocese of Belo Horizonte
Technical details
Floor count2
Design and construction
Architect(s)Oscar Niemeyer

The Church of Saint Francis of Assisi (Igreja de Sao Francisco de Assis, commonly known as the Igreja da Pampulha) 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.[1]

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, the Archbishop of Belo Horizonte—prohibited the chapel from providing Catholic services.[2]

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.[3]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference hepner was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ "Folha Online - Cotidiano - Igrejinha da Pampulha (MG) será novamente recuperada - 21/10/2003". www1.folha.uol.com.br. Retrieved Feb 12, 2020.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference unesco was invoked but never defined (see the help page).