Cathedral of Brasília.

The Cathedral of Brasilia (Catedral Metropolitana Nossa Senhora Aparecida) was designed by Oscar Niemeyer, with structural calculation by engineer Joaquim Cardoso, it was the first monument to be created in Brasilia.

Its founding stone was emplaced on September 12, 1958 and its construction was completed on May 31, 1970.

Its structure was ready in 1960, and only the circular area of ​​seventy meters in diameter appeared, from which sixteen concrete columns (pillars of parabolic section) were raised in a hyperboloid format, weighing ninety tons.

 

On May 31, 1970 it was inaugurated de facto, already with transparent external glasses.

Four bronze sculptures three meters high, representing the evangelists; the sculptures were made by Alfredo Ceschiatti with the help of the sculptor Dante Croce in 1968.

The sculptures would lead you the  entrance below the ground of the Basilica.

Inside the nave are the sculptures of three angels suspended by steel cables. The dimensions and weight of the sculptures are 2.22 m in length and 100 kg the least; 3.40 m long and 200 kg the average;

and 4.25 m in length and 300 kg the largest.

This hyperboloid structure is constructed of concrete, and it would seem that with its glass roof it was raised open towards the sky. The Niemeyer project of the Cathedral of Brasilia was based on the hyperboloids of revolution, where the sections are asymmetrical.

By itself, this structure is the result of sixteen identical assembled concrete columns. Each column has a hyperbolic section and weighs 90 tons, the set represents two hands moving towards the sky. The cathedral has four bells donated by Spanish residents in Brasilia in 1968. These bells were cast in Miranda de Ebro, Spain.

 

On the photo below, lower left corner you can see a couple of persons so you can appreciate the dimensions of the structure.

There is a replica of La Pieta that is in Saint Peter’s Basilica.

 

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Burle Marx Garden – Brasilia

This is a high view of the Burle Marx Garden in Brasilia, Brasil. At the very far back you can see or could see for the trained eye (ha!) the National Congress buildings, also on previous post.

This magnificent photo, not by itself but by the view, was taken from the Brasilia TV tower (photo of the tower below).

On weekends you can go into the Brasilia TV tower, as high as about the middle of it there is a platform where you can see all around the city. It is not covered, so if it rains you will get wet. And yes, it rained that day.

Victor Emmanuel II

I believe flags have character. I like them fluttering in the skys, sometimes fighting against the wind others teasing it. I give them my best shot and many times I wait until they boast majestically.

This one is at the Altar of the Fatherland in Rome, Italy.

A paramount view of the monument to Vittorio Emanuele II. Notice the size of the sculpture, enormous and beautiful!

 

Girl by the Tiber

 

On my way to the Vatican I took this photo. You can see at the far back Saint Peter’s cathedral in Rome.

Downtown Errands.

Last week I had a visit from abroad that did not know Mexico City, so the task was to show him around. First stop was Mexico Downtown which has lots of old and nice building that show architectural influence from around the world: Spain, Italy, France, Arab even English and some Art Deco. Why this? Well, the city was founded in 1521 and many people has contributed to what we are today.

We landed on a very nice place where there are shops and a hotel boutique, you know, the kind of hotel that has about 12 nice rooms and exceed any service expectations and, of course, also the price.

Have a look here

I did not take that many photos, but the one thing I liked was how the top of the trees downstairs showed a bush-form garden at the lobby upstairs.

Inside the building there are several restaurants, one of then called Punta Arenas (on a previous post) and  an artisan factory of chocolates called Qué Bo (Here the link for you to look around)

Did I mention that the chocolate is from Mexican origin? Hang on there, that will be a soon-to-be post.

This is the view of the garden from the Lobby, which happen to be the top of the trees from the second photograph below.

nice…

On the way to the restaurant below or going up to the lobby, a mural on the staircase.

Some of the shops in the place….

I don’t remember the name of the Hotel…so

 

Mexico City, Downtown

Some of the many buildings in Downtown Mexico City:

This is the Palace of Fine Arts where many concerts and expositions take place. This building has sunk more than 3 feet to date since the city was built on a lake bed.

Hemicycle to Benito Juárez, Mexican president monument

One of the views of the Zócalo, the second largest Plaza in the world, just after Rusia’s

The Zocalo and the Monumental flag

National Palace, government building on the Zócalo.

Another view of National Palace.

The Cathedral. The oldest and the first one in Latin America. The first stone was set on 1571.

59 meter wide,  128 long, 67 meters high.

Another Working Day

Mixed photos from Mexico City.