Brasília

Brasília is the capital of Brazil, located in the Central-West region, within the Federal District. It is a planned city built to promote development of the interior and to decentralize political power away from coastal cities. Construction began in 1956 under President Juscelino Kubitschek, and the city was inaugurated on April 21, 1960, replacing Rio de Janeiro as the capital. The urban design was led by Lúcio Costa, with architecture by Oscar Niemeyer; the landscape layout was by Roberto Burle Marx.

The Plano Piloto centers on the Monumental Axis, a north–south spine flanked by government buildings, museums, and cultural facilities, and is surrounded by residential superquadras. Niemeyer’s structures—Cathedral of Brasília, the National Congress, Itamaraty (Minister of External Relations), Palácio do Planalto, and the Supreme Federal Court—form a distinctive modernist ensemble. The city’s formal symmetry, aerial avenues, and emphasis on sightlines are hallmarks of its design.

In 1987 Brasília was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its innovative urban planning and architecture.

The Federal District’s population approaches three million, and the economy is dominated by public administration, education, health, and services, with the University of Brasília as a major higher-education center.

Brasília has a tropical savanna climate and hosts Brasília International Airport, serving as the region’s main gateway.