Santuário Dom Bosco, Catholic church in Plano Piloto, Brazil
Santuário Dom Bosco is a Catholic church in Brasília's Plano Piloto, distinguished by its concrete exterior with tall, pointed arches and a cross set high on one facade. Inside, eighty concrete columns rise sixteen meters, framing stained glass windows in twelve shades of blue that color the space.
The Salesians, the first religious order to arrive in Brasília in 1956, began building this church in 1963, and it was completed in May 1970. It became an official sanctuary only in 2017, when the congregation received a relic of Don Bosco.
The church is dedicated to Saint John Bosco, the patron saint of Brasília, and its name comes from a dream he had in 1883 that many associate with the founding of the city. Today, visitors can see a relic of the saint in the underground crypt, and the church is a common stop for residents and tourists alike.
The church is in Asa Sul, near the center of Plano Piloto, and is easy to reach on foot or by local transport. Visitors can enter freely during daylight hours, but should dress respectfully and avoid visiting during mass times if they wish to look around without disturbing worshippers.
The central chandelier, made of 7,400 pieces of Murano glass, weighs two tons and is lit only during ceremonies or for short periods upon payment. The bronze doors, created by Gianfrancesco Cerri, show scenes from Don Bosco's life and a representation of his prophetic dream about Brasília.
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