worldwide. Brasilia is also an important transportation hub for travel within Brazil.
Understand
The basic structure of Brasilia was completed in just four years, from 1956 to 1960, under the leadership of President Juscelino Kubitschek, with the slogan "fifty years of progress in five", and the city is in a sense a memorial to him.
The city plan is designed in the shape of a giant bird or airplane, with various separated zones assigned for specific functions such as housing, commerce, hospitals and banking. Running down the center of the "airplane's" fuselage is the thoroughfare called the Eixo Monumental ("Monumental Axis") and at one end lay the government buildings. The arched "wings" are residential zones, with several rows of medium-rise apartment blocks with small commercial districts. The intersection is the commercial and cultural hub, with stores, hotels, and the cathedral. A huge artificial lake serves the city as both a leisure area and to diminish the effects of low humidity in drier months (see Climate below).
After less than 50 years from its creation, Brasilia is still developing a culture of its own. The city has often been criticized as a failed utopia where rationalized modernist planning has buried the human element. Yet Brazilians are quite proud of their capital, embodying a vision of a future when Brazil is no longer considered merely a "developing" country.
The original planned area (called Plano Piloto) is home to about 300,000 inhabitants, most of the city's upper classes. The so-called satellite cities (15 to 40 kilometres away, some in the neighbouring State of Goiás) concentrate the remainder of the almost two million inhabitants of this metropolis.
Orientation and addresses
Getting a grasp of Brasilia's addresses may be a little perplexing at first, as they are usually shortened to acronyms. Here go some useful tips:
The Monumental Axis divides the city into north and south sectors. Acronyms ended in N refer to sectors on the northern side, while those ended in S are on the south.
Climate
Temperatures seldom hit extremes. 17°C to 28°C (63 to 82°F) are the average lows and highs, but it can get as low as 15°C in June and get as hot as 30°C in September/October. July, August and September are the worst months to go as it gets very dry. The city's landscape, normally very green, becomes desert-like and everyone must drink lots of water to prevent the unpleasant effects of dehydration. On the other hand, during those months the city is blessed with a gorgeous sunset in spectacular shades of orange, pink and red. The best months to go are probably May and June - still green, but no longer so hot, with fewer chances of rainfall.
Tourist information
Official tourist info can be obtained from Brasilia's tourist authority (in Portuguese).
Get in
By plane
Due to long distances and falling prices in air travel, flying has become a practical way of getting to Brasilia. The city is a national air travel hub, and there should be plenty of flights. In fact you may find your plane touching down at Brasilia airport even if you're not starting or ending anywhere near, such as Salvador to Belém.
Presidente Juscelino Kubitschek International Airport () (), Brasília's airport (phone:(61) 3364-9000, fax: (61) 3364-9251), is situated 11 km (7 mi) from the city center and has one of the few tourist information services in town (phone (61) 3033.9488, from 7.30 am to 10.30 pm). It also has an exchange office at the arrivals area, another one at Banco do Brasil (open Mo-Fri 11:00-16:00, departures area) and several ATMs.
Taxis are the most convenient means of getting from the airport into the city. They are relatively expensive for Brazilian standards and the 20-minute drive to the hotel zone should cost about R$ 30-40. Buses number 102 and 102.1 are frequent and significantly cheaper. They link the airport to the main bus terminal at Rodoviária, from where you can catch buses or the subway to other parts of the city.
By bus
Due to its central location, Brasilia is well served by a bus network that connects it with the rest of Brazil. Travel times are about 15 hours to São Paulo, 18 hours to Rio, 10 hours to Belo Horizonte and 3 hours to Goiania. Buses from other States arrive at a dedicated bus station called rodoferroviaria (phone:(61) 3363-4045), that is located at the west end of the axis and is connected to the city centre by bus (number 131, frequency each 10-20 minutes, from 5 am to midnight) and taxis.
By car
Drivers coming from southern and Center-west states will arrive by the Saída Sul entrance. From other states, you'll enter Brasilia by Saída Norte. After you're inside the Federal District, keep following the Brasília signs and Zona Central if you're staying at the hotel sector.
Get around
Ride the buses, take a cab, hitchhike, but whatever you do, don't plan on getting around Brasilia on foot. The city was designed under the assumption that every resident would own an automobile. Obviously things didn't turn out that way, and the city's public transport is a solution to an almost deliberately designed problem. Fortunately it works fairly well. Note that the roads have few crosswalks or traffic lights, so being a pedestrian also requires some caution.
By bus
Most local buses start from or go through the rodoviária, at the precise center of the city, and run along the "wings" - serving the residential zones - or through the Monumental Axis.
Red minibuses, called Zebrinha or Transporte de Vizinhança are very useful for moving around, as they link the central area of Brasilia (Setor Comercial, Setor de Diversões etc.) to Esplanada dos Ministérios, the airport and some of the main avenues (L2 and W3).
Unlike many other Brazilian cities, passengers in Brasilia board buses by the front door. Buses must be flagged, otherwise they will only stop when a passenger requests to hop off.
Single fares are R$ 2,00 for travel within Plano Piloto. There is no advance sale of tickets, pay as you board.
By taxi
Taxis are relatively expensive in Brasilia and usually cannot be hailed on the streets. Taxi stands, however, are close to all tourist attractions and any hotel will be able to call a cab or provide the phone number of the best known dispatch offices. All taxis must have taximeters and can start charging only after the passenger has boarded.
By subway
The Metrô subway system started operating in 2001. Its Y-shaped line starts in the main bus station (Rodoviária do Plano Piloto - "Central" station) and makes its first stop at Setor Comercial Sul ("Galeria" station), which is fairly near some hotels South of Monumental Axis. It runs along the south wing, but stops only at block 114 (other stations seem to be forever under construction). The subway is open only Monday to Friday, 6 AM to 11 PM and is not quite useful for moving around. There are, however, three points of interest along the line: the Buddhist Temple (EQS 115/116, access by "114 Sul" Station); Parkshopping mall (next to "Shopping" station) and a typical fair in the satellite city of Guará (access by "Feira" Station). Single fare: R$ 2,00.
By car
If you arrive by car or decide to rent one there, note that drivers behave differently than in other places in Brazil:
See
Nearly all of Brasilia's architectural sites are on the eastern part of the Monumental Axis.
The "wing" sectors, while mostly residential, contain a few notable buildings:
Besides the outstanding architecture and art, Brasilia also has attractions on the natural side:
Although lacking major museums, culture vultures may enjoy the city's contemporary arts scene, one of the country's most active. Cultural centers like CCBB, Conjunto Cultural da Caixa (SBS Quadra 4), Espaço Cultural 508 sul (SCRS 508) and Espaço Ecco hold frequent exhibitions from national and international artists.
Do
Buy
Brasilia's residential wings have many local shops such as groceries, drugstores, bakers, restaurants, hairdressers and so forth, and that is where townspeople do much of their daily shopping. The now somewhat decadent W3 avenue used to be the equivalent of a city's high street and still concentrates a large portion of the city's street commerce. Shopping malls, however, also play an important part when it comes to shopping in town.
Some off-center places can also be of interest for travellers:
Eat
Brasilia does not have a typical, regional cuisine. Nevertheless, restaurants serve food from many Brazilian states, as well as international fare.
Self-service (por quilo) restaurants are very common and usually cheaper than their à la carte counterparts.
Most of Brasilia's "real" (table service) restaurants are located at the residential wings, usually a bus or taxi ride away from most tourist attractions. One of the most popular streets is 405 sul (from rodoviaria, take bus 114), with choices ranging from sushi to Brazilian, Mexican and French food.
Budget
Mid-range
Splurge
Drink
Despite not being particularly famous for its nightlife, Brasilia has some hangouts that save visitors from night-time boredom.
Although the city's music scene is no longer as vibrant as it was in the 80s - when it bred some of the greatest pop/rock talents of recent generations with bands like Capital Inicial and Legião Urbana - live shows of local bands are frequent. Daily listings in Portuguese can be found at the local newspapers or the Correioweb and Candango websites.
Sleep
Most of the city's accommodation is located at the Hotel Sectors (SHS and SHN), two central areas located on both sides of Eixo Monumental. During weekdays, hotels are usually busy due to the capital's political activity and it is advisable to book in advance.
Many simple pousadas are located at W3 Sul avenue. They are often non-regulated by tourist authorities and their quality and security may vary greatly.
Budget
Mid-range
Splurge
Contact
The area code to Brasilia is 61 (also add Brazil's 55 if dialing from abroad). All 7-digit telephone numbers have recently been converted to 8-digit by adding a 3 before the number. To reach a number like 241-0000 from abroad, dial (55 61) 3241-0000.
By web
There are also many Wi-fi hotspots scattered around town, including the food court of the airport and various hotels.
Get out
Nearby attractions include:
Brasília (IPA: bɾaˈziliɐ) is the capital of Brazil, located in the central part of the country. It has a population of about 2.3 million and is the seat of the main federal government: the president (residing in the Palácio do Planalto), the Brazilian supreme court, and the Brazilian parliament. Brasilia is listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
Building the city was begun in 1956 with Lúcio Costa as the principal urban planner and Oscar Niemeyer as the principal architect. In 1960, it formally became Brazil's capital. When seen from above, the city's shape resembles an airplane or a butterfly.
Brasilia is located in the Federal District, which has the same borders as the city. The federal district is surrounded by the Brazilian state of Goiás. The city is not a traditional municipality by Brazilian law.
Background
The city was built to bring the capital, previously Rio de Janeiro, to Brazil's center-west and closer to the other regions. This was done using a large workforce, originating from throughout the country. Brasília is known, internationally, for having applied the principles established in the Athens Charter (1933).
History
President Juscelino Kubitschek ordered the construction of Brasília, fulfilling an article of the country's constitution stating that the capital should be moved from Rio de Janeiro to a place close to the center of the country. Lúcio Costa won a contest and was the main urban planner. Oscar Niemeyer, a close friend of Lúcio, was the chief architect of most public buildings and Roberto Burle Marx was the landscape designer. Brasília was built in 41 months, from 1956 to April 21, 1960 when it was officially inaugurated.
From 1763 to 1960, Rio de Janeiro was the capital of Brazil. At this time, resources tended to be centred in Brazil's southeast region near Rio de Janeiro. Brasília’s geographically central location within the country made for a more regionally neutral federal capital.
The idea of placing Brazil’s capital in the interior dates back to the first republican constitution of 1891, which roughly defined where the federal district should be placed, but the site itself was not defined until 1922. Brasília’s location, it was argued, would promote the development of Brazil's central region and better integrate the entire territory of Brazil.
According to a legend, Italian saint Don Bosco in 1883 had a prophetic dream in which he described a futuristic city that roughly fitted Brasília's location. Today, in Brasília, there are many references to this educator who founded the Salesian order. One of the main cathedrals in the city bears his name.
Brasilia is the result of a modern urban project designed by Lúcio Costa. When seen from above, the city’s pilot plan resembles the shape of an airplane – many prefer to refer to it as a bird with open wings –, although the architect’s original urban concept pointed to the shape of a cross, to symbolize possession.
The city’s project is, up to this day, a world reference when the issue is urban planning. The idea of spreading residential buildings around expansive urban areas, of tracing the city plan around large avenues and dividing it into sectors, has produced an intense debate and reflections on life in big cities in the 20th century.
The city also hosts a varied assortment of art works from great artists like Bruno Giorgi, Alfredo Ceschiatti, Athos Bulcão, Marienne Peretti, Volpi, Di Cavalcanti, Victor Brecheret and Burle Marx, whose works have been integrated into the city’s architecture, making it an unique landscape.
A scenario for political events, music performances and movie festivals, Brasilia is a cosmopolitan city, with around 90 embassies, a wide range of restaurants and complete infrastructure ready to host any kind of event. Not surprisingly, the city stands out as an important business tourism destination, which is a raising segment of the local economy, crowding dozens of hotels spread around the national capital.
Brasilia has a little bit of every corner of Brazil. Building a national capital in the heart of the Country required a large workforce and attracted people from all corners of the nation.
World Heritage Site
The Brazilian capital is the only city in the world, built in the 20th century, to be awarded by UNESCO, an United Nations agency, since 1987, the status of Historical and Cultural Heritage of Humanity. And there are plenty of reasons for such renown: this young city, inaugurated in 1960, surprises even the most experienced travellers.
Climate
The national capital’s weather is semi-arid, with seasons being defined according to the degree of humidity of the air: one season is dry and colder, while the other one is humid and hot. The average temperature is 20.5° C (69° F). October is the hottest month of the year, with highest temperatures standing at 29° C (85° F), while July is the coldest one, with lowest temperatures standing at 13° C (55° F).
The best time to visit the city is from April to June, when the dry season has yet to begin and beautiful days of the bluest sky are quite common – an unforgettable, unique spectacle. From August to September, it is the driest time of the year, with gorgeous purple and yellow flowered Ipê trees spread alongside the city’s greyish vegetation at this time of the year. Rains start pouring down, usually, in October.
Economy
Brasília's economy is dominated by services: government, communications, banking and finance, entertainment, and legal services. Industries in the city include construction, food processing, furniture making, and printing and publishing.
Brasilia's participation in the Brazilian GDP is 1.8% The main agricultural products produced in the city are Coffee, Guava, Orange, Lemon, Papaya, Soy beans and Mango. It has over 110,000 cows and it exports woodproducts worldwide.
The most important industries in the city are construction, publishing, steel transformation, and most recently, recycling, pharmaceuticals and information technology. Irmãos Gravia, Via Construções, União Química and Latasa are a few examples of companies based in the city.
The national government is by far the largest employer, accounting for around 40% of the city jobs. Government jobs include all levels, from the federal police to diplomacy, from communication services to the armed forces.
Infrastructure
The consumption of commercial energy at Brazil's capital was 924 (gwh), the industrial reached 337(gwh), and the residential reached 1,241(gwh). The total energy consumption was 3,319 (gwh). The railways system is not developed, with only 36 km. However, the city has a large subway system spread throughout the Distrito Federal. The total extension of Brasilia's paved roads is 1,855.5 km (843mi), with 44% of all its roads paved.
Accommodation
The city’s planned design included specific areas for almost everything, including lodging – Hotels Sectors North and South. However, other areas are receiving new hotel facilities, such as the Hotels and Tourism Sector North, located on the shores of Lake Paranoá. Brasilia offers modern and comfortable hotels, including hotels managed by international networks; but it also offers cosy and modest inns, pensions and hostels.
Being a city that receives visitors from the whole of Brazil and the world, it offers a good network of restaurants with great diversity of food; from simple small restaurants, serving the authentic food of Central-Western areas of Brazil, to selected bistros.
Government Palaces
Monumental Axis
The Monumental Axis also known as the Ministries Esplanade is an open-area in downtown Brasília, the capital of Brazil. The rectangular garden is surrounded by two 8-lane wide avenues where many important government buildings, monuments and memorials are located.
National Congress
Brazil's bicameral National Congress consists of a Senate (the upper house) and a Chamber of Deputies (the lower house). The Federal Senate (Senado Federal) contains 81 seats: three senators from each state and three from the Federal District, elected on a majority basis to serve eight-year terms. Elections are staggered so that two-thirds of the upper house is up for election at one time and the remaining one-third four years later. The Chamber of Deputies (Câmara dos Deputados) comprises 513 deputies (members of congress), who are elected by proportional representation to serve four-year terms. Elections are based on a complex system of proportional representation by states. The seats are allotted proportionally according to each state's population, but each state is eligible for a minimum of eight seats and a maximum of 70 seats. Both houses of Congress meet in a purpose-built legislative palace in the centre of Brasília. Fifteen political parties are currently represented in Congress. Since it is common for politicians to switch parties, the proportion of congressional seats held by particular parties changes frequently.
Since the 1960s, the National Congress has its seat in Brasilia. As most of the official buildings in the city, it was designed by Oscar Niemeyer following the style of modern Brazilian architecture. The semisphere to the left is the seat of the Senate, and the semisphere to the right is the seat of the Chamber of the Deputies. Between them there are two towers of offices. The Congess also occupies other surrounding buildings, some of them interconnected by a tunnel.
The building is located in the middle of the Monumental axis, the city main street. In front of it there's a large lawn, where demonstrations take place. At the back of it, there are the Praça dos Três Poderes, where the Palácio do Planalto and the Palace of Justice lie.
Palácio da Alvorada
The Palácio da Alvorada is the official residence of the President of Brazil. The palace was designed, along with the rest of the city of Brasília, by Oscar Niemeyer and inaugurated in 1958. It is located at SHTN Asa Norte in Brasília.
One of the first structures built in the republic's new capital city, the "Alvorada" lies on a peninsula at the margins of Lake Paranoá. The principles of simplicity and modernity, that in the past characterized the great works of architecture, oriented Niemeyer's project. The viewer has an impression of looking at a glass box, softly landed on the ground with the support of thin external columns.
The building has an area of 7,000 m2 and three floors: basement, landing and second floor. On the basement level are located the auditorium, kitchen, laundry, medical center, and the administration. On the landing are located the rooms used by the presidency for official receptions. The second floor is the residential part of the palace, with four suites, two apartments and other private rooms.
The building has also a library, a heated Olympic-sized swimming pool, a music room, two dinning rooms and various meeting rooms. Located in adjacent buildings are the chapel and the heliport.
Palácio do Planalto
The Palácio do Planalto is the official workplace of the President of Brazil. It is located at the Praça dos Três Poderes in Brasília, Brazil. As the seat of government, the term "o Planalto" is often used as a metonym for the executive branch of the government.
The main working office of the President of the Republic is in the Palácio do Planalto. The President and his family, however, do not live in it; the official residence of the President is the Palácio da Alvorada. Besides the President, a few high advisors also have offices in the "Planalto", including the Vice-President and the Chief of Staff; the other Ministries are laid along the Esplanada dos Ministérios.
The architect of the Palácio do Planalto was Oscar Niemeyer, the "creator" of most of the important buildings in the new capital of Brasília. The idea was to project an image of simplicity and modernity using fine lines and waves to compose the columns and exterior structures.
The Palace is four stories high, and has an area of 36,000 m². Four other adjacent buildings are also part of the complex.
Supreme Federal Tribunal
The Supreme Federal Tribunal is the highest court of law of the Federative Republic of Brazil. The court functions as a last resort tribunal and a Constitutional Court; its rulings therefore cannot be appealed. It can also overturn laws passed by the Congress. This happens when the court judges a direct action of unconstitucionality, Ação direta de Inconstitucionalidade or Adin.
The members of the court, who are called ministers (ministro), are appointed by the President and approved by the Senate. They serve until compulsory retirement, at 70 years old.
The number of members has changed through history. The Constitution of 1891 decided that the court would have 15 members. When Getúlio Vargas came into power, the number of members was reduced to 11. It changed to 16 in 1965, but returned to 11 in 1969. It has not changed ever since.
Of all Presidents only one, Café Filho, has not nominated a minister.
Tourist attractions
Cultural Complex of the Republic
The Cultural Complex of the Republic ("Complexo Cultural da República" in Portuguese) is a cultural center located along the Monumental Axis, in the city of Brasília, Brazil. It is formed by the National Library of Brasília and the National Museum of the Republic'.
The National Library of Brasília (Biblioteca Nacional de Brasília in Portuguese) occupies an area of 14,000 m², consisting of reading and study rooms, auditorium and a collection of over 300,000 items.
The National Museum of the Republic (Museu Nacional da República in Portuguese) consists of a 14,500 m² exhibit area, two 780-seat auditoriums, and a laboratory. The space is mainly used to display temporary art exhibits.
Paranoá Lake
Paranoá Lake is a giant artificial lake built in order to increase the amount of water available to the region. It holds the second largest marina in Brazil, and is home to the capital's wakeboard and windsurf practitioners.
Juscelino Kubitschek bridge
The Juscelino Kubitschek bridge, also known as the President JK Bridge or the JK Bridge, crosses Lake Paranoá in Brasília. It is named for Juscelino Kubitschek de Oliveira, former president of Brazil. It was designed by architect Alexandre Chan and structural engineer Mário Vila Verde. Chan won the Gustav Lindenthal Medal for this project at the 2003 International Bridge Conference in Pittsburgh.
It consists of three 200-foot tall asymmetrical steel arches that crisscross diagonally. With a length of 0.75 miles, it was completed in 2002 at a cost of US$56.8 million. The bridge has a pedestrian walkway and is accessible to bicyclists and skaters.
The bridge design is very similar to a pedestrian walkway in the Port of Nagoya Public Aquarium.
Praça dos Três Poderes
Praça dos Três Poderes (Portuguese for Square of the Three Powers) is a plaza in Brasília, Brazil. The name is derived from the encounter of the three powers around the plaza; the Executive, represented by the Palácio do Planalto (presidential office; the Legislative represented by the Congresso Nacional(National Congress); and the Judiciary, represented by the Palácio da Justiça.
It is a tourist attraction in Brasília. It was designed by Lúcio Costa and Oscar Niemeyer as a place where the three powers would meet and harmonically.
Cathedral of Brasília
The Cathedral of Brasília in the capital of the Federative Republic of Brazil, is an expression of the architect Oscar Niemeyer. This concrete-framed hyperboloid structure, seems with its glass roof to be reaching up, open, to heaven. On 31 May 1970, the Cathedral’s structure was finished, and only the 70 m diameter of the circular area were visible. Niemeyer's project of Cathedral of Brasília is based in the hyperboloid of revolution which sections are asymmetric. The hyperboloid structure itself is a result of 16 identical assembled concrete columns. These columns, having hyperbolic section and weighing 90 t, represent two hands moving upwards to heaven. The Cathedral was dedicated on 31 May 1970.
Culture
The 1960 census counted almost 140,000 residents in the new Federal District; by 1970 this figure had grown to more than 537,000. In 2000 the population of the Brazilian Federal District stood at more than two million. Brasília's inhabitants include a significant foreign population as well as large numbers of Brazilian migrants.
Traditional parties also take place throughout the year. In June, there are large festivals celebrating Catholic saints, such as Saint Anthony and Saint Peter, that are called "festas juninas", or June festival. Throughout the year there are local, national and international events spread through the city. Christmas is widely celebrated, and New Years Eve usually hosts major events.
Bands from Brasilia
Sports
Soccer
Brasilia is home to two major soccer teams:
Car racing
Social Data
Brasilia is considered to have one of the highest growth rates in Brazil, increasing its size by an average of 2.82% each year. The vegetation surrounding the city is called cerrado, the South American savanna. The main rivers surrounding the city are called Preto, Santo Antonio do Descoberto and Sao Bartolomeu.
The Human Development Index in the city is at 0.844 (developed nation level), and the illiteracy rate is around 4.35%.
Education
Universities
Transportation
Airport
Famous Places Nearby
Nearby attractions include:
surrounded by several waterfalls.
Notable people in Brasília
:See List of notable people in Brasília
Sister cities
List of sister cities, designated by Sister Cities International:
External links
