Holiday in Belo Horizonte

About Belo Horizonte

Belo Horizonte — affectionately called BH by locals — is the capital of the state of Minas Gerais and with around 2.7 million inhabitants, it is the sixth largest city in Brazil. The city was established in 1897 as Brazil's first planned city on a grid pattern and is situated on hilly terrain surrounded by mountains (Serra do Curral). Belo Horizonte is the undisputed bar capital of Brazil: With over 12,000 bars — more per capita than any other city in the country — the Boteco culture (Brazilian pub culture) is most authentic here. In the evenings, the sidewalks of the neighborhoods Savassi and Santa Tereza fill with plastic tables and freshly tapped Chopp (draft beer). The Pampulha region in the north of the city is an architectural masterpiece and UNESCO World Heritage site: Oscar Niemeyer designed the Igreja de Sao Francisco de Assis, the Casa do Baile, and the Museu de Arte here in 1943 — all icons of Brazilian modernism, located by the artificial Pampulha Lake. Minas Gerais is the culinary heart of Brazil: Pao de Queijo (cheese bread), Feijao Tropeiro, Tutu de Feijao, and Doce de Leite all originate from this region. The Mercado Central with over 400 stalls is a feast for all senses. From Belo Horizonte, the colonial cities of Ouro Preto (UNESCO World Heritage), Tiradentes, and Diamantina are reachable for day trips — testimonies of the Brazilian gold rush in the 18th century.