The capital of Brazil’s state of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte was designed by French architect Aarao Reis, who envisioned a modern urban layout with wide avenues and green spaces to serve as the replacement of Ouro Preto. Translating to “Beautiful Horizon,” Belo Horizonte is perhaps the perfect description for the city’s picturesque backdrop in front of the mountains. The city quickly became an important economic and cultural center of Brazil, and major infrastructure projects like the Pampulha Modern Ensemble showcased its commitment to modernist architecture. The region is home to a diverse population, including immigrants from Europe and the Middle East, and remains celebrated for its nightlife in the Savassi and Lourdes neighborhoods. With dozens of museums, spacious parks, and internationally renowned gastronomy, Belo Horizonte is truly a city for everyone. Discover the “Beautiful Horizon” for yourself when you plan to travel with Gray Line Worldwide today!
Tour Expert, Gray Line Belo Horizonte
Found in the Pampulha neighborhood of Belo Horizonte, the Pampulha Modern Ensemble was designed by the renowned architect Oscar Neimeyer in the 1940s. Celebrated for its innovative modernist design, the building is considered one of the key examples of modern architecture in Brazil today. Complete with bold curves, organic forms, and a harmonious design that fits in with the surrounding landscape, the Pampulha Modern Ensemble includes the Church of Saint Francis of Assisi, Pampulha Art Museum, and Pampulha Yacht Club. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2016, the complex is situated around the Pampulha Lagoon and features landscaped gardens, pathways, and lots of nooks and crannies for visitors to explore.
The Inhotim Institute is a unique cultural and botanical institution that combines a love of contemporary art with a deep appreciation of nature. Situated in Brumadinho about 60 kilometers from Belo Horizonte, Ihotim is found in the capital of the Minas Gerais state and was established in 2006 by Brazilian entrepreneur Bernardo Paz. Spanning over 140 hectares and featuring a diverse collection of contemporary art installations, galleries, and botanical gardens, the complex features work from both Brazilian and international street artists that integrates into the surrounding landscape. An impressive collection of native and exotic plants from around the world enhance the visitor experience and complement the many art installations.
Serra do Cipo National Park is located near Belo Horizonte and was created in 1984 as a protected area of over 76,000 acres. The park features a mix of mountainous terrain, plateaus, and valleys with elevations that reach up to 6,561 feet above sea level. A variety of endemic plant species and unique landscapes call the area home, including campos rupestres (rocky fields), orchid and bromeliad vegetation, and diverse wildlife. While you hike, keep an eye out for the maned wolf, Brazilian free-tailed bat, and array of native bird species. You can also check out some of Serra do Cipo’s waterfalls, including the Cachoeira do Tabuleiro, which is considered the tallest in Brazil.
Known in popular parlance as “botecos,” small, informal bars and restaurants are a staple of Belo Horizonte’s cultural and gastronomic identity. With one of the highest densities of bars per capita in the world, Belo Horizonte offers an array of social hubs that are cherished places for locals and visitors to gather. “Happy Hours” are a popular tradition, particularly after work when botecos are packed with employees on their way home. A crucial part of the boteco experience are petiscos, which are small, shareable snacks. Traditional Minas Gerais cuisine reigns supreme on boteco menus, and pao de queijo (cheese bread) is an oft-ordered petisco. Crispy fried pork belly — called torresmo — is another very popular meal choice.
Envisioned as a large green space for the city’s urban sprawl, Parque das Mangabeiras was designed by renowned Brazilian landscape architect Roberto Burle Marx. Known for his innovative and organic approach to design, Marx built a park that seamlessly integrated with the area’s natural environment. With ongoing development and recreational improvements, the park is now home to hiking trails, sports courts, playgrounds, and environmental education centers. Parque das Mangabeiras is also valued as an important site for conservation efforts of local plantlife. Skateboarders enjoy the lively skate park while cultural events are a frequent staple of community and cultural life at the park.
Located in the Savassi neighborhood of Belo Horizonte, Praca da Liberdade has been one of the city’s main squares since the late 19th century. Home to gardens, lakes, avenues, fountains, and monuments, the square’s layout was originally landscaped in the English style and revamped to look like France’s Palace of Versailles in 1920 to align with a visit from the kings of Belgium. Several city buildings — including the Public Library, Mape Building, and Casa Funarte Liberdade — line the urban space, and meticulously designed flowerbeds with palm trees flank the avenue running into the square. Part of the Praca da Liberdade Cultural Circuit, the square also sits in front of the Niemeyer Building, a luxury residential building designed in the 1950s.
Built in the 1960s and named after the governor of Minas Gerais at the time, Estádio Mineirão is a football (soccer, in the United States) stadium primarily used by the Cruzeiro Esporte Clube and Atletico Mineiro. Undergoing significant renovations for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, the stadium is located near Pampulha Lake, a popular tourist and recreational area in Belo Horizonte. With a seating capacity of about 66,805, Estádio Mineirão hosted six matches in 2014, including the semi-final match between Brazil and Germany of the FIFA World Cup. Besides football, Estádio Mineirão is designed to accommodate various types of events, including concerts and cultural activities. The stadium’s fans are known to participate in traditional Brazilian chants and songs during games, which makes matches at the venue particularly lively.
Founded in 1698 and originally known as Vila Rica, Ouro Preto was literally known as “Rich Town” because of its wealth from gold mining. Translating more directly to “Black Gold,” the name specifically refers to the gold’s dark appearance due to a layer of iron oxide in the ground. Ouro Preto was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1980, which was centuries after it was considered the largest city in the Americas around 1750. The town was renowned as a significant center of scholarship and culture in colonial Brazil and attracted artists, philosophers, and intellectuals from around the world. Today, visitors can see remnants of the old town situated in the Serra do Espinhaco mountains, tour its 13 historic churches, and admire its baroque architecture.
Established in 1929 by the mayor of Belo Horizonte, Mercado Central was intended to be a gathering space for local producers to supply the burgeoning city. In the mid-1960s, the market underwent significant renovation changes and implemented a covered structure, which further solidified its status as a commercial hub. Today, Mercado Central hosts over 400 stores that serve both locals and tourists. The market is also famous for showcasing the diverse Minas Gerais cuisine, which includes local delicacies like pa de queijo (cheese bread) and feijao tropeiro (a mix of beans, sausage, and cassava flour). Visitors can purchase an array of traditional crafts and souvenirs that reflect the rich artisan skill of the region. The market is also known for selling religious artifacts, including candles and herbs, that are intertwined with local belief systems.
Established in 1702, Tiradentes is a charming colonial-era town located in Minas Gerais. Named after Joaquim Jose da Silva Xavier — commonly referred to as Tiradentes — the city gets its title from the national revolutionary hero. Tiradentes was the center of the Inconfidencia Mineira, a movement aimed at fighting for independence from Portuguese colonial rule. The execution of Tiradentes established him as a martyr for the cause in 1792. With a relatively small local population, the town today features buildings dating back over 300 years, cobbled streets, and an impressive culinary reputation. Every August, the town hosts a food festival that attracts gourmets and tourists alike. Tiradentes’ main landmark is the Igreja Matriz de Santo Antonio, a church known for its lavish gold interior.
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