Church of Saint Francis of Assisi

Belo Horizonte, Brazil

Open to visitors

The interior is normally open, possibly ticketed.

Strollie cannot guarantee access — always check before you travel.

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Located in the Pampulha region of Belo Horizonte, the Church of Saint Francis of Assisi is a pioneering work of Brazilian modernism designed by Oscar Niemeyer and completed in 1943. The chapel's defining feature is its organic modern form: four undulating concrete parabolas that create a sculptural silhouette at odds with conventional ecclesiastical architecture. The striking exterior, with its mosaic decoration, complements a landscape by Roberto Burle Marx, while the interior contains a mural by Candido Portinari. The building's radical curves provoked scandal among Belo Horizonte's conservative establishment; though finished in 1943, the church remained unconsecrated for sixteen years due to ecclesiastical opposition, finally receiving consecration in 1959. It became Brazil's first listed modern architectural monument and now forms part of the Pampulha Modern Ensemble, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.