Belo Horizonte – Brazil

Earlier known as Cidade de Minas or “Minas City”, this city came into being on December 12th 1897, during the Republican era. It was officially christened as Belo Horizonte, a few years later, in 1901, due to its beautiful view of the surrounding Serra do Curral mountain range. It is known to be the first planned city, in the country.

Due to its greenery, Belo Horizonte has earned the title of “Garden City”. Moreover, owing to vast improvements in infrastructure and other developmental activities, it has earned a distinction of being the 45th among 100 best cities in the world in terms of quality of life. It has also been ranked among the 10 best business friendly cities in Latin America. Belo Horizonte is also one of the host cities for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

Getting around

Most of the city’s places of interest can be reached by buses that offer good connectivity. Local train services for travel between different points within the city are somewhat lagging. Taxis are a good alternative to buses and their fares are reasonable too. The city is also served by two airports, one international and one domestic airport that are located at distances of 40 km and 9 km from downtown respectively.

Main Places of Interest

Belo Horizonte has several places of tourist interest such as museums, art galleries, parks, and buildings.

Memorial Minas Gerais – Vale is the foremost among the popular museums which attempt to describe the history of Minas Gerais using an interactive approach. The Crafts and Arts Museum that is located in the city’s municipal park, houses historic arts and crafts from before the start of Brazil’s industrial era.

Among the theaters, Palacio Das Artes clearly stands out. The building is beautiful and has good acoustics. This hosts several popular musical concerts and shows. There are also exhibition halls that are used to showcase works of art, albeit temporarily.

The Parque Serra do Curral is a park that has walking and hiking trails interspersed with lookouts and is a very popular tourist attraction. It enables a breath taking view of the city and its surroundings. It also has diverse flora and fauna including more than 125 species of birds. Park das Mangabeiras is also a must see place for nature lovers where the Cerrado and the Atlantic forests seem to merge.

Praca da Liberdade is a popular landmark surrounded by beautiful buildings that is within walking distance from the Savassi neighbourhood. It is actually a square that is lined with majestic old palm trees. The place consists of fountains, band stands, old benches, and a nice patch of greenery right in the midst of all the hustle and bustle of the city. Parque Municipal, another park at the center of the city is also worth a visit. It has boat rental facilities and several play areas for children. It is also home to ducks. The Pampulha neighbourhood in the city is representative of the 1940s architecture in Brazil. The São Francisco de Assis church that is located in the area would arouse anyone’s interest due to its design that is vastly different from that of any typical church building.

Outside the city

The Inhotim Museum of Contemporary Art is located about 70 km from Belo Horizonte. It is an open air museum which is often described as the greatest in the world. Master pieces from the colonial era can be seen here. Another nearby place of interest is Rota Lund that is well known for its many caves, as well as archaeological findings. The Serra do Cipó National Park is another favourite spot for tourists who prefer outdoor activities. Cities such as Mariana, Ouro Preto, and Congonhas which have great historical significance are located within a radius of 100 km from Belo Horizonte.