Situated on top of the Brazilian highlands, Brasilia is the
country's purpose-built capital, its seat of government and
fourth-largest city. Most visitors pass through Brasilia
International Airport, one of the continent's major transport hubs,
without bothering to view the city. Indeed, they'll find little to
rival the allure of Brazil's more mainstream destinations.
Nevertheless, Brasilia is a major drawcard for architecture
aficionados, who come to marvel at its artistic layout and
monumental modernist buildings. The city is recognised as a World
Heritage Site.
Designed in an attempt at a utopian city, Brasilia has been
nicknamed 'ilha da fantasia' or 'Fantasy Island'. As such, the
buildings serve as monuments to progress, technology, and the
promise of the future. Against a backdrop of perpetually blue sky,
their striking, bleached-white granite and concrete lines are
wonderfully photogenic.
Among the most famous of Brasilia's modernist structures are the
Cathedral of Santuario Dom Bosco, the monolithic Palácio do
Itamaraty, and the TV tower, which, at 240 feet (72m), offers the
best views in town.
The famous Brazilian architect, Oscar Niemeyer, designed all of
the original city's buildings, while the urban planner, Lucio
Costa, did the layout. The central city's intersecting Highway Axis
makes it resemble an aeroplane when viewed from above. Getting
around the city is easy and convenient, as there is excellent
public transport. However, walking is not usually an option given
the vast distances between the picturesque landmarks.
Brasilia is located 720 miles (1,160km) from Rio de Janeiro and
626 miles (1,007km) from Sao Paulo. As the only major inland city
in this vast country, it is quite literally in the middle of
nowhere. Still, visitors will find some worthwhile excursions
outside the capital. The long distances involved make these
overnight trips. Itiquira Falls is a 550 foot-high (168m) waterfall
60 miles (100km) from the city, and Caldas Novas - the world's
largest natural hot springs resort - can be found 220 miles (360km)
southeast of Brasilia.
