Praça Sete Obelisk

(Memorial Monument of the Centenary of the National Independence)

The obelisk of Praça Sete (“Seven Square”) is a landmark commemorating the 100th anniversary of Brazil's independence, on September 7, 1822. The monument was chosen by means of a contest, and the design of the architect Antônio Rego was the winner. The execution was carried out by the company of engineer Antônio Gonçalves Gravatá, by order of the president of Minas Gerais at the time, Raul Soares.

 The monument was launched on September 7, 1922, at the confluence of the Afonso Pena and Amazonas avenues, a place considered the landmark of the city. It is said that the square, which was renamed September 7, was formerly called October 14 Square, the date of creation of the Study Committee of Indicated Locations for the New Capital.

The obelisk was carved in granite, in a quarry in Betim, a municipality in the metropolitan area of Belo Horizonte, and transported by railway to the Lagoinha neighborhood. From there, to its definitive location, followed by tram, that is, also on rails, the only resource existing at the time.

It was inaugurated on September 7, 1924. It is 13.5 meters high and is divided into 28 blocks, weighing 120 tons. On each of its four faces there is a bronze plaque by artist Francisco de Paula Rocha. Around the monument there are four cast iron chandeliers, the work of the Austrian artist João Amadeu Mucchiut.

In 1962, due to the increased car traffic in the metropolis center, it was removed from its original location and taken to a vacant lot next to the Abílio Barreto Museum. In 1963, it was reinstalled in the place Diogo Vasconcelos, in Savassi. Subsequently, in September 1980, under popular pressure, it returned was to its place of origin. It is affectionately called “lollipop” by Belo Horizonte inhabitants.

On June 2, 1977, a state decree registered this monument as cultural and historical heritage of the State of Minas Gerais.