Santuario Dom Bosco, Brasilia
Exterior of the Santuario Dom Bosco, Brasilia. Public domain.
Interior view. Photo
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The wall of windows inside the Sanctuary. Photo
Zemlinki!.
Detail of blue and white windows. Photo
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Location map and aerial view of Santuario Dom Bosco. For a larger interactive view, see our Brazil Map.
The Santuario Dom Bosco (Sanctuary of Dom Bosco) in Brasilia honors the Italian saint who dreamed of a utopian city in 1883. Brasilia, the modern capital city of Brazil, is inspired by this dream. The shrine is especially notable for its impressive interior, bathed in heavenly blue light from walls of windows.
History
In 1883, an Italian saint named Dom Bosco had a dream of a utopian city of the future. He described it as a capital city that would rule justly and provide for all the needs of a great nation. Significantly, the saint declared that this city would be located in the New World, between the 15th and 20th parallels.
Dom Bosco's vision was a major inspiration for the foundation of Brasilia, Brazil's modern capital city. In honor of the saint and his aspirational dream, the Sanctuary of Dom Bosco was built right on the 15th parallel in Brazilia.
What to See
From the outside, the Santuario Dom Bosco is a fairly unremarkable concrete box, although the tall lancet window openings might invite a second glance. But the interior of the shrine is a wondrous space, filled with heavenly blue light filtering through windows that cover virtually the entire walls - 2200 sq m in total.
The windows of the Dom Bosco Shrine are made of small squares of stained glass in 12 different shades of blue with dots of white, designed by Claudio Naves and manufactured by Belgian artist Hubert Van Doorne in São Paulo. Some of the windows swivel open for ventilation.
At night, a different spectacle of light dominates the interior: a huge golden chandelier made of 7,400 pieces of Murano glass by architect Alvimar Moreira.
Other notable furnishings include life-sized statues of Don Bosco and Nossa Senhora Auxiliadora (Our Lady of Help) made of Carrara marble, an altar made of a 10-ton block of marble, and a large Crucifix above the altar that was carved from a single cedar tree by Gotfredo Tralli.
Quick Facts
| Site Information | |
| Names: | Santuario Dom Bosco; Sanctuary of Dom Bosco; Shrine of Dom Bosco |
| Location: | Brasilia, Central-West Brazil, Brazil |
| Faith: | Christianity |
| Denomination: | Catholic |
| Dedication: | St. Dom Bosco |
| Categories: | Catholic Shrines; Churches |
| Architecture: | Modern |
| Status: | active |
| Visitor Information | |
| Coordinates: | 15.800635° S, 47.894747° W (view on Google Maps) |
| Lodging: | View hotels near this location |
| Phone: | (61) 3223-6542 |
| Website: | www.santuariodombosco.org.br |
| E-mail: | contato@santuariodombosco.org.br |
| Opening hours: | Open 24 hours |
| Cost: | Free |
Article Sources
- Santuario - official website
- See the Dom Bosco Sanctuary Brasilia - BrasiliaBrazil.info
Last updated on August 15, 2009.
