3 / 5 - 2 reviews
How to get there
A one hour flight from Sao Paolo
When to go
All year round
Minimum stay
One day
Belo Horizonte (Brazil)
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Adeline Haverland
Practical information about Belo Horizonte
Reviews of Belo Horizonte
There's not much to see in Belo Horizonte, except for those who like the architecture of Niemeyer. On the other hand, it's the perfect departure point for a tour of the historic cities.
My suggestion:
I advise you to go to Belo Horizonte on the weekend. Flights and hotels are much cheaper then.
Summary:
Belo Horizonte is basically a business city, but it's not a bad place to look around for a day. In my opinion, if you're only going to visit one thing in the capital of Minas Gerais, it should be the Pampulha neighborhood. The area was planned in the forties by Niemeyer at the request of the city's mayor, Juscelino Kubitschek (they worked together again on the project for the new capital, Brasilia, a few years later).
I'm a devoted fan of the work of Niemeyer, which is famous for its modernist lines, particularly in the church of Sao Francisco de Assis, with its sinuous forms. It's a real little jewel, set off by the green spaces designed by Burle Marx and the murals painted by Portinari, which can be seen inside the church. A building which, just on its own, defines architectural and artistic creation of the twentieth century in Brazil.
Aside from Pampulha, the city didn't really float my personal boat. However, it does represent a good departure point for exploring the surrounding area, including the historic cities (Ouro Preto, Congonhas, Mariana, etc.) and Inhotim, the contemporary art center which has become a must-see, located an hour's drive away.
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Amélie Perraud-Boulard
The sixth largest city of Brazil has an excellent reputation. Despite often being avoided by tourists who prefer the colonial cities in the State, the capital of Minas Gerais doesn't lack interest.
My suggestion:
Known across Brazil for being the capital of bars (botecos in Portuguese), I advise you tospend a night in Belo Horizonte to confirm the reputation of the mineiros and try the local cachaça.
Summary:
Another large city... Before going to Belo Horizonte for the first time, let's just say my expectations weren't very high. On my way through the capital of Minas Gerais to get to the colonial cities, I found Belo Horizonte a lot more charming than the country's many other cities.
Arriving by plane to Pampulha airport, straight away I immersed myself into the city's atmosphere by discovering the portholes on Pampulha's artificial lake. Well known for the Niemeyer structures that surround it (including the famous St. François d’Assise Church), this part of the green and calm city is by far the part that I thought was the most pleasant.
In case you get a little hungry, don't forget that the Mineira cuisine is known for being the best cuisine in Brazil, the “mercado municipal”, a veritable institution often overwhelmed by the gringos of the passage, remains the perfect place to try the different products of the region. I advise going there early in the morning so you can peacefully enjoy the area.
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Adeline Haverland
148 travellers' photos
