In Rio de Janeiro, even experienced tourists cannot immediately find its main shrine - the cathedral of St. Sebastian. They think that it is a residential skyscraper, an industrial facility, a shopping center. This avant-garde building in the city center does not look like a Catholic church at all.

The cathedral was built in 1979 by the Brazilian architect Edgar Fonseca and named after the patron saint of Rio de Janeiro - Saint Sebastian. Its conical shape has a diameter of 106 meters and a height of 75 meters and resembles the ancient Mayan pyramids. The church is so large that up to 20 thousand parishioners can be there at the same time. The religious building is made of concrete and steel. It was also a non-standard decision of the architect. Moreover, during the evening mass, thousands of neon rays of purple or green illuminate the sky above the shrine.

The interior of the cathedral in the Art Nouveau style is as original as its appearance. But unlike the gloomy exterior, the interior is striking with bright colors of stained-glass windows from the floor to the top of the dome. And the dome is crowned by a huge window in the shape of a cross. Depending on weather conditions and time of day, the temple has different lighting each time and appears to the faithful in a new look.

A large wooden cross is suspended above the main altar of the church. Also, the chapel is lit by two sumptuous chandeliers by the famous designer Nicolo Zanotto. The sculptures of the famous Brazilian sculptor Humberto Cozzo, the author of marble carvings on the tombs of members of the royal family, are the particular value.

In the lower part of the cathedral, there is a Museum of Sacred Art. The formation of its collection began in the middle of the 20th century and continues to this day. Most of the collection is donated by locals. The central place is occupied by items used for the baptism of many crowned persons.