One of the many “must-see” sights in Rio de Janeiro is the Metropolitan Cathedral, a futuristic cathedral built between the years of 1964 and 1979 in honour of Saint Sebastian, the patron saint of Rio.

History

The cathedral, which took 12 years to build, replaced a series of old churches that had served as cathedrals since 1676. On January 20th 1964, the first stone of the new Cathedral was laid by Archbishop Jaime de Barros Câmara, then in 1972 the first Christmas Mass was held. Finally, in 1976, the altar was christened to mark the cathedral’s completion

[caption id="attachment_7950" align="alignnone" width="640"] Metropolitan Cathedral of Rio[/caption]

Symbolism

The cathedral’s quirky design is highly symbolic. Its exterior was constructed by the architect Edgar de Oliveira, who took his inspiration from the Mayan pyramids in the Yucutan Peninsula in Mexico. However, unlike the pyramids which are square, the cathedral is shaped like a cone, which said to symbolise the people’s closeness to God. It also bears resemblance to the traditional ‘miter’ used by bishops during ceremonies. A mesmerising sound fills the cathedral when the Catholic priests sing, for this conical structure provides an outstanding acoustic.

[caption id="attachment_7949" align="alignnone" width="640"] The cathedral's exterior design was based on the Mayan Pyramids / source[/caption]

Inside the cathedral, there are four brightly-coloured stained glass windows which stretch all the way from the floor to the ceiling over the walls, symbolising God descending and coming before man. They represent the four “marks” of the Church: One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic. These striking windows allow the sunlight to be projected in an array of different colors, further enhancing the cathedral’s beauty and creating an almost supernatural ambience. The vast front door of the cathedral is composed of 48 bronze plaques, all which focus on the theme of faith.

[caption id="attachment_633" align="aligncenter" width="540"]Windows The four stained glass windows soar from floor to ceiling / source[/caption]

Museu de Arte Sacra

In the basement of the cathedral is the Museu de Arte Sacra (Sacred Art Museum) which is home to a collection of historical artefacts such as sculptures, murals and artwork. Amongst these are the baptismal font used to baptize the royal princess, the throne of Dom Pedro II and the golden Rose awarded to Princess Isabel by Pope Leo XIII to celebrate her signing of the Abolition Act.

[caption id="attachment_629" align="aligncenter" width="540"]Museum of Sacred Art One of the many historical artefacts in the Museum of Sacred Art[/caption]

Useful information

Capacity: The cathedral accommodates up to 20,000 worshippers (standing) and 5,000 seated. Opening Times: The Cathedral is open to visitors every day from 7 am to 6 pm. Mass Schedule: Monday – Friday: 11am Saturday – Sunday: 10am City Tours which visit the cathedral: Rio Full Day City Tour Rio Express Day Tour [caption id="attachment_631" align="aligncenter" width="540"]World Youth Day The cathedral holds up to 20,000 people! This is from World Youth Day last week / source[/caption]

With its combination of history, symbolism and dazzling architecture, the Metropolitan Cathedral of Rio is one of the most unique sights in Rio de Janeiro and surely cannot be missed!

For more sights in Rio de Janeiro and information about the city, head to our website.
By: Camilla Day