square · Boa Vista, RR
Praça do Centro Cívico e Monumento ao Garimpeiro
The center of the fan-shaped layout that gives Boa Vista its unique city plan, with the statue honoring the gold miners. The starting point for city tours of the capital.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Praça do Centro Cívico e Monumento ao Garimpeiro
The Praça do Centro Cívico is the point from which Boa Vista is laid out. The urban plan of Roraima's capital, drawn up in the 1940s by engineer Darcy Aleixo Derenusson, is shaped like a fan: the main downtown avenues radiate from this circular square, crossed by curved streets.
Around the square are the seats of the three branches of state government: the Palácio Senador Hélio Campos, seat of the government, the Legislative Assembly and the Court of Justice. The Catedral Cristo Redentor is a few steps away. That makes the square the informal ground zero of any walk around the city and the starting point for city tours.
In the middle of the square is the Monumento ao Garimpeiro (monument), unveiled in 1969, when Roraima was still a federal territory. The statue shows a miner bent over his gold pan and recalls the role of gold and diamond mining in shaping the region. It is one of the most classic photos of Boa Vista.
The square is open, flat and easy to explore on foot, with benches and shade from trees. You can combine the visit with the cathedral and a walk to the Rio Branco riverfront.
Before you go
Practical information
How much time to set aside
Half an hour is enough to walk around the square and see the monument and the surrounding buildings; an hour if you include the cathedral.
Best time
In the late afternoon, when the Boa Vista heat eases and the low light is good for photos; in the dry season, between September and March, it rains less.
How to get there
It is in downtown Boa Vista, where the city's main avenues converge. From downtown and the Rio Branco riverfront you can walk; from other neighborhoods, go by car, taxi or ride-hailing app, since almost all the radial avenues lead to the square.
Tip
Start your downtown walk here: with the fan-shaped layout, it is easy to get your bearings from the square and walk to the cathedral and the riverfront.
A look at the place
Praça do Centro Cívico e Monumento ao Garimpeiro in pictures
These pictures are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs. They may differ from the place.
Click the picture to enlarge it.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Praça do Centro Cívico e Monumento ao Garimpeiro
Is there an entrance fee at the Praça do Centro Cívico?
No. It is a public square, open and free to access.
How long does the visit take?
Half an hour is enough to see the monument and the surrounding buildings; with the Catedral Cristo Redentor, plan on about an hour.
What is around the square?
The seats of Roraima's three branches of government: the Palácio Senador Hélio Campos, the Legislative Assembly and the Court of Justice. The Catedral Cristo Redentor is very close.
What does the Monumento ao Garimpeiro represent?
Unveiled in 1969, the statue shows a miner with his gold pan and honors those who worked in gold and diamond mining, an important part of Roraima's history.
Why is Boa Vista shaped like a fan?
The urban plan drawn up in the 1940s by engineer Darcy Aleixo Derenusson placed the Praça do Centro Cívico at the center, with the main avenues radiating from it like the ribs of a fan.