It was the first Brazilian city to be built (1897) upon an urban plan. At present, the city has 2,5 milion inhabitants. Belo Horizonte is the country’s second industrial center, producing steel, cement, automobiles and exporting iron ore, manganese, nickel, uranium and precious stones.

Highlights:
Pampulha Lake: a district where one can see the first works by the archictect Niemeyer, landscape projects by Burle Marx and paintings by Portinari. This district is looked upon as an early example of contempory architecture in Brazil, which reached its climax in Brasilia. Visit the Church of Saint Francis of Assissi, Museum of Art and the Soccer Stadium.