Brasilia, Capital of Brazil is located on a plateau in central Brazil 1000 metres above sea level. This most contemporary of cities is a wonder of modern architecture and concept living. The city was ‘commissioned’ by the then president of Brazil, Juscelino Kubitschek who installed Lugio Castia as his urban planner and the renowned Oscar Niemeyer as his chief architect.
The plan was to build a new capital for Brazil that would represent Brazil as a major player in the international community. Built in the shape of a cross, the city took just 4 years to build and was inaugurated on April 21st 1960.
The city of Brasilia seems to have been built as one large sculpture or piece of architecture with vast open expanses between buildings. This sense of space and distinctive separation of ‘sectors’ within the city make it rather an unfriendly destination for the pedestrian and the necessity of a car is more evident here than any other city in the world.
Visitors flock to Brasilia in the millions every year to absorb the incredible contemporary architecture that lines each street such as the glass crown shaped cathedral of Brasilia. The city is not only home to contemporary architecture though as its galleries buzz with the excitement of the most active contemporary art scene in all of Brazil.
To experience restaurants, bars and nightlife visitors will have to leave the main centre of the city behind and head into the more residential peripherals of Brasilia.
Why not take a look at the interactive map of Brasilia via the menu on the left to get a closer look at the parts of the city that interest you.