Brasilia: An Intentional Capitol
Monday, January 31, 2011
Brasilia, Brazil
Brasilia was conceived in a dream by Dom Bosco, an Italian monk who visioned, in 1883, a "land of milk and honey" between the 15' and 20' parallels, beside a lake, in a land with tropical rain forest. Over half a century later a decades long movement came to fruition to relocate the capitol city from the vulnerable and geographically marginal Rio de Janeiro to the heart of Brazil. When construction began in the mid 1950's, the striking blue glass Chapel de Dom Bosco was one of the first buildings completed.
The city is built in a design resembling the wings of a great dragonfly or airplane. It was laid out on the high planes of central Brazil, and is said to be influenced by its architect's passion for ancient Egyptian mathematics. Brasilia's founders supported diversity of religion and the city contains a wide variety of centers for nearly any spiritual path you can imagine. We visited three such places: The National Cathedral; the Chapel of Dom Bosco and The Temple of Good Will. The Temple of Good Will was inaugurated in 1989 and has become the most visited monument in Brasilia.
Please check out the slide show below to enjoy our tour of Brasilia!
Brasilia, Brazil
Brasilia was conceived in a dream by Dom Bosco, an Italian monk who visioned, in 1883, a "land of milk and honey" between the 15' and 20' parallels, beside a lake, in a land with tropical rain forest. Over half a century later a decades long movement came to fruition to relocate the capitol city from the vulnerable and geographically marginal Rio de Janeiro to the heart of Brazil. When construction began in the mid 1950's, the striking blue glass Chapel de Dom Bosco was one of the first buildings completed.
The city is built in a design resembling the wings of a great dragonfly or airplane. It was laid out on the high planes of central Brazil, and is said to be influenced by its architect's passion for ancient Egyptian mathematics. Brasilia's founders supported diversity of religion and the city contains a wide variety of centers for nearly any spiritual path you can imagine. We visited three such places: The National Cathedral; the Chapel of Dom Bosco and The Temple of Good Will. The Temple of Good Will was inaugurated in 1989 and has become the most visited monument in Brasilia.
Please check out the slide show below to enjoy our tour of Brasilia!
