architecture / monument
Congresso Nacional
Niemeyer's two domes and twin towers have become a symbol of the whole country. Free guided tours go into the chambers and the inner halls.
Distrito Federal · Brazil Capital
Brasília
In the destination Brasília and Surroundings.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
The city
What to expect from Brasília.
Brasília brings together modern architecture, wide public spaces and the scenery of Lago Paranoá (lake). The three arches of the Ponte Juscelino Kubitschek (bridge) mark the crossing between different parts of the capital.
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Where to stay
3 places to stay in Brasília.
Where to eat
3 places picked to eat.
Your trip
What to know before you go.
The local experience
What to see in Brasília
church
Catedral Metropolitana de Brasília
Sixteen concrete columns open like hands in prayer, and the interior is bathed in light from Marianne Peretti's colorful stained glass. The underground entrance sets up the effect.
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square / civic center
Praça dos Três Poderes
Where the Planalto, the Supreme Court and the Congress meet, surrounded by sculptures such as Os Guerreiros and the Dove of Peace. This is where Lucio Costa's plan makes sense.
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monument / viewpoint
Ponte Juscelino Kubitschek
Three steel arches crisscrossing over Lago Paranoá in a movement that recalls a stone skipping across the water. Lit up at dusk, it is one of the city's postcard images.
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church
Santuário Dom Bosco
From outside it is a plain concrete block; inside, thousands of pieces of blue stained glass create the feeling of a night sky. The central crystal chandelier completes the effect.
museum
Memorial JK
It holds the tomb and personal collection of Juscelino Kubitschek, with the president's statue inside a concrete sickle. It tells the story of the capital's construction through objects and photos.
national park
Parque Nacional de Brasília
Known as Água Mineral, it has spring-fed pools of running water, cerrado trails and a real chance of seeing maned wolves and deer. It is a few minutes from downtown.
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monument
Palácio Itamaraty
Designed by Oscar Niemeyer and opened in 1970, it houses the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and has an arched facade over a reflecting pool landscaped by Burle Marx. Guided tours show the column-free hall, the unsupported staircase and works by Athos Bulcão and Volpi.