Catedral Metropolitana de São Sebastião do Rio de Janeiro

Name: Catedral Metropolitana de São Sebastião do Rio de Janeiro
Address: Av. República do Chile, 245 - Centro, Rio de Janeiro - RJ, 20031-170, Brasil
Telephone: (21) 2240-2669
Rating: 4.7

4.7(27,681)Google

Av. República do Chile, 245 - Centro, Rio de Janeiro - RJ, 20031-170, Brasil

Catedral católica singular e moderna semelhante a uma pirâmide, inaugurada em 1979.

Tourist Attraction · Church · Place Of Worship · Association Or Organization · Point Of Interest · Establishment

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Radical 1970s modernist cathedral that looks like a spaceship — Centro's most daring architectural landmark

The Metropolitan Cathedral is a deliberate shock to anyone expecting traditional Catholic church aesthetics. Opened in 1979, designed by Edgar Fonseca, it's a raw concrete cone standing 96 meters tall with room for 20,000 people. Inside, light streams through towering vertical stained glass creating an almost psychedelic effect — especially around noon. It's not everyone's cup of tea aesthetically, but it's Brazilian brutalist architecture at its boldest. The basement museum holds interesting sacred art and the pipe organ is worth a look.

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Perfect visit

Go between 11am-1pm to catch natural light hitting the stained glass. Avoid crowded Sunday mass if you want to explore freely. Pair with nearby Lapa Arches.