Mirante

Mirante is a term used in Portuguese-speaking countries to denote a lookout, vantage point, or observation deck from which a landscape, city, or seascape can be viewed. In Brazil, the word is commonly applied to open-air terraces, balconies, platforms, or promenades situated on hillsides, rooftops, or along coastal or urban routes that offer panoramic views. In Portugal, the related word miradouro is often preferred, though mirante is understood and used in several contexts, particularly in Brazilian Portuguese.

The concept is employed in urban planning and tourism to designate places designed for public viewing. A mirante typically features a safe railing, accessible paths when possible, and signage describing the surrounding geography. It may be part of a public park, a hotel complex, a hilltop road, or a coastal promenade. The primary function is to provide visual access to a scenic or representative landscape and to serve as a vantage point for sightseeing, photography, and sunset observation.

As a toponym, mirante is used for streets, squares, or districts in Brazil and other Portuguese-speaking regions, reflecting the place’s function as a vantage point or scenic overlook. The term forms part of a broader set of expressions for lookout points, alongside miradouro in Portugal and similar terms in other languages.

See also: Miradouro, viewpoint, panorama, lookout.