Church of Saint Francis of Assisi

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 Location of Church of Saint Francis of Assisi in Brazil
General information
Type	Church
Architectural style	Modernist
Town or city	Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais
Country	Brazil
Coordinates	19°51′30″S 43°58′44″W / 19.85833°S 43.97889°W / -19.85833; -43.97889
Completed	1943
Affiliation	Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Belo Horizonte
Technical details
Floor count	2
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, 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]