Brasilia | national capital, Brazil | Britannica.com national capital, Brazil Juscelino Kubitschek Brasília, city, federal capital of Brazil . It is located in the Federal District (Distrito Federal) carved out of Goiás state on the central plateau of Brazil. At an elevation of some 3,500 feet (1,100 metres), it lies between the headwaters of the Tocantins , Paraná , and São Francisco rivers. Because of its unique city plan and architecture, as well as its unprecedented role in the development of the Brazilian interior, the city was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1987. Area Federal District, 2,240 square miles (5,802 square km). Pop. (2000) 1,961,499; Federal District, 2,051,146; metro. area, 2,952,276; (2010) 2,476,249; Federal District, 2,570,160; metro. area, 3,717,728.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. The landscape City layout The plan of the central city has been likened to a bird, a bow and arrow, or an airplane. Designed by the Brazilian architect Lúcio Costa , its form is emphasized by the Highway Axis (Eixo Rodoviário), which curves from the north to the southwest and links Brasília’s main residential neighbourhoods, and the straight Monumental Axis (Eixo Monumental), which runs northwest-southeast and is lined by federal and civic buildings. At the northwestern end of the Monumental Axis are federal district and municipal buildings, while at the southeastern end, near the middle shore of Lake Paranoá, stand the executive, judicial, and legislative buildings around the Square of Three Powers, the conceptual heart of the city. Goddess of Justice (right) in front of the Supreme Federal Tribunal building, … © ostill/Shutterstock.com These and other major structures were designed by the Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer .

In the Square of Three Powers, he created as a focal point the dramatic Congressional Palace, which is a composition of five parts: twin administrative towers flanked by a large, white concrete dome (the meeting place of the Senate) and by an equally massive concrete bowl (the Chamber of Deputies), which is joined to the dome by an underlying, flat-roofed building. A series of low-lying annexes (largely out of sight) flank both ends. Also in the square are the glass-faced Planalto Palace (housing the presidential offices) and the Palace of the Supreme Court. Farther east, on a triangle of land jutting into the lake, is the Palace of the Dawn (Palácio da Alvorada; the presidential residence). Between the federal and civic buildings on the Monumental Axis is the city’s cathedral, considered by many to be Niemeyer’s finest achievement. The parabolically shaped structure is characterized by its 16 gracefully curving supports, which join in a circle 115 feet (35 metres) above the floor of the nave; stretched between the supports are translucent walls of tinted glass. The nave is entered via a subterranean passage rather than conventional doorways.

Other notable buildings are Buriti Palace, Itamaraty Palace (the Palace of Foreign Affairs), the National Theatre, and several foreign embassies that creatively embody features of their national architecture. National Congress buildings, Brasília, Brazil. Rubens Chaves/TIPS/Imagestate Scientists Ponder Menopause in Killer Whales The climate is warm and mild with average minimum and maximum temperatures of about 57° F (14° C) and 81° F (27° C), respectively. Rainfall averages some 60 inches (1,600 mm) per year with a dry season from March to October, and humidity is generally between 40 and 80 percent (it fell to 11 percent during a drought in 1994). The people Brasília’s inhabitants include both foreigners (notably ambassadorial staff) and Brazilians, some of whom came from economically impoverished areas in the Northeast to take part in the city’s building. Later, many more moved from Rio de Janeiro and other urban centres to staff the myriad government agencies.

The population of both central and satellite areas grew tremendously in the first decade of the city’s construction; the city alone held some 64,000 inhabitants in 1959, and it was home to more than 272,000 by 1970. In the Federal District, 139,796 persons were counted in the 1960 census, and 537,492 were enumerated 10 years later. The populations of the city and the Federal District soon reached a rough parity, the number of residents in each exceeding two million in the early 21st century. The economy Services and industries The major roles of construction and of services (government, communications, banking and finance, food production, entertainment, and legal services) in Brasília’s economy reflect the city’s status as a governmental rather than an industrial centre. Industries connected with construction, food processing, and furnishings are important, as are those associated with publishing, printing, and computer software. Many nationwide companies and associations have headquarters there. Transportation Facebook Twitter YouTube Instagram Pinterest Highways and air routes link Brasília with the rest of the nation, and there is regular national and international air service.

Railways connect the city with Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo . Within the city itself, automobiles and buses are the main forms of urban transportation because of the primacy afforded expressways in the city’s design and the considerable distances between inner-city neighbourhoods.. The city also has an underground transit system. Local government Until 1990 the governor of the Federal District was appointed by the Brazilian president and confirmed by the Senate. In that year, in keeping with provisions of the 1988 constitution, Joaquim Domingos Roriz was chosen in the first election for district governor. Reporting to the governor are numerous secretaries responsible for public works, welfare, education, law enforcement, and other concerns. The Senate acts as the legislative branch of local government. In 1986 the voters in the district elected their first congressional representatives to the national assembly, and since that time elections have been conducted as in any of Brazil’s states. Cultural life The University of Brasília (1962) is central to much of the city’s cultural life. The Cultural Foundation sponsors many national meetings in the arts and letters, and several foreign information centres are available.

Housed in an irregularly shaped pyramidal structure, the National Theatre features dramatic, symphonic, and operatic works. Historical institutions include the Museum of Brasília, with a historical record of Brasília’s creation, the Federal Reserve Museum, and the Image and Sound Museum of the Institute of History and Geography. An initial lack of recreational facilities has been overcome in Brasília by numerous cinemas and nightclubs and a proliferation of sporting grounds in the city and suburbs. The city also has many swimming pools. A zoological park and forest reserves have been developed, and boating and fishing are popular activities on Lake Paranoá and the nearby rivers. The city boasts two professional soccer stadiums, one accompanied by an indoor arena for other sports. Implements and vessels made by indigenous Brazilian cultures; in the Museu do Índio, … © Elô Martins/Fotolia Why Do Some Countries Move Their Capitals? Jeremy Woodhouse/ Photodisc/ Getty Images Updated January 02, 2016. The capital of a country is often a very populated city where much history has been made due to the high-level political and economic functions that occur there. However, sometimes government leaders decide to move the capital from one city to another.

Capital relocation has been done hundreds of times throughout history. The ancient Egyptians, Romans, and Chinese changed their capital frequently. Some countries choose new capitals that are more easily defended in a time of invasion or war. Some new capitals are planned and built in previously undeveloped areas to spur development. New capitals are sometimes in regions deemed neutral to competing ethnic or religious groups as this could promote unity, security, and prosperity. continue reading below our video 10 Facts About the Titanic That You Don't Know Here are some notable capital moves throughout modern history. United States During and after the American Revolution, the United States Congress met in eight cities, including Philadelphia, Baltimore, and New York City. The construction of a new capital city in a separate federal district was outlined in the United States Constitution (Article One, Section Eight), and President George Washington selected a site near the Potomac River. Virginia and Maryland donated land. Washington, D.C. was designed and built and became the United States capital in 1800. The site was a compromise involving southern slave-holding economic interests and northern states who wanted war debts repaid. Russia Moscow was the capital of the Russian Empire from the 14th century until 1712.

It then moved to St. Petersburg to be closer to Europe so that Russia would become more “western.” The Russian capital was moved back to Moscow in 1918. Canada In the 19th century, the legislature of Canada alternated between Toronto and Quebec City. Ottawa became the capital of Canada in 1857. Ottawa was then a small town in a largely undeveloped region, but was chosen to be the capital city because it was close to the boundary between the provinces of Ontario and Quebec. Australia In the 19th century, Sydney and Melbourne were the two largest cities in Australia. They both wanted to become Australia’s capital, and neither would concede to the other. As a compromise, Australia decided to build a new capital city. After an extensive search and survey, a section of land was carved out of New South Wales and became the Australian Capital Territory. The city of Canberra was planned and became Australia’s capital city in 1927. Canberra is located about halfway between Sydney and Melbourne but it is not a coastal city. India Calcutta, in Eastern India, was the capital of British India until 1911.

To better administer all of India, the capital moved by the British to the northern city of Delhi. The city of New Delhi was planned and built, and was proclaimed the capital in 1947. Brazil Brazil’s capital relocation from very overcrowded Rio de Janeiro to the planned, built city of Brasilia occurred in 1961. This capital change had been considered for decades. Rio de Janeiro was thought to be too far from many parts of this large country. To encourage the development of the interior of Brazil, Brasilia was built from 1956-1960. Upon its establishment as Brazil's capital, Brasilia experienced very rapid growth. Brazil’s capital change was considered very successful, and many countries have been inspired by Brazil’s capital relocation achievement. Belize In 1961, Hurricane Hattie badly damaged Belize City, the former capital of Belize. In 1970, Belmopan, an inland city, became the new capital of Belize to protect the government’s functioning, documents, and people in case of another hurricane.

Tanzania In the 1970s, Tanzania’s capital moved from coastal Dar es Salaam to centrally located Dodoma, but even after many decades, the move is not complete. Cote d’Ivoire In 1983, Yamoussoukro became the capital of Cote d’Ivoire. This new capital was the hometown of the President of Cote d’Ivoire, Felix Houphouet-Boigny. He wanted to spur development in the central region of Cote d’Ivoire. However, many government offices and embassies remain in the former capital, Abidjan. Nigeria In 1991, the capital of Nigeria, Africa’s most populated country, was moved from Lagos because of overcrowding. Abuja, a planned city in central Nigeria, was deemed to be a more neutral city regarding Nigeria’s many ethnic and religious groups. Abuja also had a less tropical climate. Kazakhstan Almaty, in southern Kazakhstan, was the Kazakh capital when the country gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.

Government leaders moved the capital to the northern city of Astana, formerly known as Aqmola, in December 1997. Almaty had little room to expand, could experience an earthquake, and was very close to other newly independent countries which could experience political turbulence. Almaty was also far from the region where ethnic Russians, who comprise about 25% of Kazakhstan’s population, live. Myanmar Myanmar’s capital was formerly Rangoon, also known as Yangon. In November 2005, government workers were suddenly told by the military junta to move to the more northern city of Naypyidaw, which had been constructed since 2002 but not publicized. The entire world still doesn’t have a clear explanation why Myanmar's capital was relocated. This controversial capital change was possibly based on astrological advice and political fears. Yangon was the largest city in the country, and the restrictive government probably did not want crowds of people to protest against the government. Naypyidaw was also considered more easily defensible in case of a foreign invasion.

South Sudan In September 2011, just a few months after independence, South Sudan's Council of Ministers approved a move of the new country's capital city from the initial temporary capital of Juba to Ramciel, located closer to the center of the country. The new capital will be a located within an independent capital territory not part of the surrounding Lake State. It is expected that the move will take approximately five years to complete. Iran - Possible Future Capital Change Iran is considering relocating its capital from Tehran, which lies on about 100 fault lines and could experience a catastrophic earthquake. If the capital were a different city, the government could better manage the crisis and reduce casualties. However, some Iranians believe that the government wants to move the capital to avoid protests against the government, similar to Myanmar. Political leaders and seismologists are studying regions near Qom and Isfahan as possible places to build a new capital, but this would probably take decades and an enormous amount of money to complete. See page two for a comprehensive listing of additional recent capital city relocations! Capital Relocation Rationale Finally, countries sometimes change their capital because they expect some type of political, social, or economic benefit.

They hope and expect that the new capitals will surely develop into cultural gems and hopefully make the country a more stable place. Prev Brazil Capital Brazil Capital What is the Capital of Brazil? Central West Region Brasil Brazil capital city is Brasilia, which is both a city and a Federal District, located in the central-west region. Brazil is geographically divided into five regions, North, Northeast, Central-West, South and Southeast. The country comprise of twenty-six states in addition to one Federal District, which is Brasilia, the capital. Of the 26 other states, nine make up Brazil northeast. As you can see from the map of Brasil , Brazil capital and federal district is surrounded by the Brazilian state of Goiás, with the exception of a short boundary with Minas Gerais. The Brazilian capital has a population in the region of 2,455,903 according to the 2007 census and is the seat of the Brazilian government. The capitol of Brazil, which is listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, is also home to the presidential palace - Palácio da Alvorada, the Brazilian Parliament and Brazil's Supreme Court.

Brasília city is also known as the "Capital da Esperança" - meaning, "The Capital of Hope", a phrase coined by the French author André Malraux. Although the architect's original urban concept and design for the construction of Brasilia was that of a cross to symbolise possession, It is said by many that when you look down on Brasilia from the air, its shape resembles that of an airplane while others see the shape in terms of a bird with outstretched wings. Background info on the capital city of Brazil From 1763 to 1960, the southeastern coastal city of Rio de Janeiro was the capital city of Brazil. Back in 1823, José Bonifácio de Andrada e Silva, a counselor and minister to Dom Pedro I, suggested the name 'Brasilia' in a bill presented to the Brazilian assembly to build a new Brazil capital city. The construction of the Brasil capital Brasilia, was ordered by President Jescelino Kubitschek, who fulfilled an article of the Country's constitution, namely, that Brazil's capital and federal city should be moved from Rio de Janeiro to the center of Brasil.

A determining factor of the early article was for a new capital city that was away from the sea and safe from invaders. The main urban planner, chief architect and landscape designer were Lúcio Costa, Oscar Niemeyer and Roberto Burle Marx, respectively. Construction commenced in 1956. The rationale behind the Brazilian government's relocation at this time being, that Brasilia's geographical central location would be a more regionally neutral federal capital and that by moving inland, more people would follow and populate the then, isolated region thus integrating the entire territory of Brazil. People from all over the country were recruited to help with the building of the Brazil capital city and especially people from Northeast Brazil. Brazilia formally became the capital of Brazil in 1960, when it was officially inaugurated. Today, Brasilia, Brazil's capital city is considered a world reference for urban planning. With its pioneering positioning of residential buildings around expansive urban areas and with the city being built around large avenues that divide it into sectors, the design plan has captured the imagination and stimulated much debate on 20th century city living. Brasilia Map | Capital of Brazil Hotels in Brasilia About Brasilia City : Brasilia is the capital of Brazil.

It covers an area of 5802 sq km and had an approximate population of 2,789,761 in 2013, making it the fourth most populous city in the country. Rio de Janeiro was the capital of Brazil from 1763 to 1960. Most of the resources were concentrated around this region. However, the federal structure of the country demanded a more central location for the capital. So, Juscelino Kubitschek ordered the construction of a planned capital city called Brasilia from 1956 to 1961. Brasilia was planned and developed by Lucio Costa and architect Oscar Niemeyer. The city was officially inaugurated on 21 April, 1960 and remains one of the planned capital cities of the world. The city is laid out like an aeroplane and an aerial view of the city serves to convey its true magnificence. In 1987, the city was declared to be a world heritage site by UNESCO. It is the only city built in the twentieth century to be so declared. Geography : Brasilia is located on the central plateau of Brazil.

It has an average altitude of 1,172 metres. The land is mostly flat or slightly undulating in places. Ground water supplies water to the city throughout the year. In addition, the artificial lake called the Lago Paranoa was constructed which is now used by fishermen, windsurfers and wake boarders. The city enjoys a tropical savannah climate. The summers are warm and wet while winters are cold and dry. Most of the rainfall is concentrated between October and late March. How to reach (transport) : You can travel to Brasilia in the following ways : The Presidente Juscelino Kubitschek International Airport is located 11 kms from the city centre. Flights are available to a number of domestic destinations as well as international destinations like Lisbon, Panama, Montevideo, Atlanta, Bogota and Miami. The road network is well planned and you can reach Brasilia from any part of the country by bus or by car. When to visit : The best time to visit Brasilia is from March to July. The dry season is suitable for traveling in the entire area. However, you should know that rooms are very difficult to come by if there are any major political events scheduled in the city.

Culture (fairs and festivals) and traditions : Brazilians are very proud of their capital city and its architectural marvels. It is a true picture of the future as envisaged in 1960s. Several events and festivals are celebrated in the city. These are : The June bonfire festival is held in June in honor of a number of catholic saints. Fireworks are a major part of the celebrations. Independence Day is celebrated on 7th September with a huge parade and other cultural programs. The Japanese festival is celebrated on every weekend of August at the Honpa Hongwanji Temple. It includes oriental food, music and bon odori dances to celebrate the Japanese heritage in Brasilia. The Porao do Rock is the largest music festival of Brazil with performers coming from all over the country and even abroad. It is celebrated any time from late July to early September. The Brasilia cinema festival is held in late October or early November. A mixture of both independent and mainstream films is screened and it draws a large crowd. The Carnival is celebrated in February and March. Though it is less hectic than the famed Rio carnival, it is getting bigger every year. Fancy costumes, marching street bands and the Samba characterize the carnival.

In Brasilia, the carnival is somewhat family oriented with a lot of emphasis on children's entertainment. Points of interest (places to visit) : The most important sights of Brasilia are as follows : The Three Powers Square are the area where the Supreme Court, the President’s palace and the seat of the Congress is located. The bronze statue of two abstract figures called Os Candangos pays tribute to the workers who built the city. The Brasilia cathedral is an amazing modernistic cathedral with 16 curved pillars and stained glass windows. The Public works of art includes an open air exhibit of some of the finest art works produced by Brazilian artists. The Dom Bosco church is a beautiful church with blue stained glass windows and a huge chandelier. The City Park is a wide green hotspot in the city suitable for a number of sporting activities. Accommodation : While Brasilia offers a wide range of accommodation, hotels are somewhat expensive though huge discounts are often available during bargaining. The Kubitschek Plaza is a five star hotel while the four star hotels include Phenicia Bittar and Royal Tulip. The three star hotels include Bristol, Casablanca, Golden Tulip, Bay Park, Manhattan Plaza, and Brasilia Palace.

Best Places to Visit in Brazil ‹ BBC - Culture - Brasilia: Building a city from scratch Design Brasilia: Building a city from scratch Oscar Niemeyer designed a metropolis where none had stood previously when he envisioned Brazil’s capital. Jonathan Glancey looks at the success rate of ‘new cities’. By Jonathan Glancey 18 June 2014 The view from high hotel windows along Brasilia’s Monumental Axis, or principal street, is surely one of the most surreal to be had of any major city. Laid out below and beyond is a grid of ambitious, geometric avenues lined with modern buildings of a distinctly rational order. The focus here is not on the cathedral, shaped in the guise of a highly formalised crown of thorns but on the compelling Congressional Palace with its pencil thin and close-coupled twin towers soaring above the Senate and Chamber of Deputies. Just beyond is the city’s most beautiful building, the Alvorada Palace, jutting out on a peninsula into the artificial Lake Paranoa shaped like a bird or bow.

You are left in no doubt that Brasilia is a city of government, of executive power, administration and law – and of no fewer than the 126 foreign embassies slotted into its striking modern buildings, too. From those hotel windows, this new city looks like a giant architect’s model. Despite its obvious coherence, it appears to lack shops, markets, street life and a sense of humanising, quotidian life. And, to a large degree, this is true. If you happen to be a fan of late 1950s and early 1960s modernist architecture, you will find your concrete El Dorado here. There is no doubt that, in their own terms, the parliamentary, government, diplomatic and legal buildings, together with the nearly identical rows of superquadras, or apartment blocks, that serve them, represent some of the world’s finest design of that period. They should do, for nearly all of them were designed by a single architect, the legendary Oscar Niemeyer, who died in 2012 shortly before his 107th birthday.

View image of (Thinkstock) (Credit: Thinkstock) Together with the town planner Lucio Costa and landscape architect Roberto Burle Marx, Niemeyer designed and built the core of Brasilia – a capital city promised in Brazil’s 1891 republican constitution – in just 41 astonishingly productive months. The impetus had come from Juscelino Kubitschek, the dynamic Brazilian president, who took power in 1955 promising “fifty years of prosperity in five”. It was a daring boast, and yet Kubitschek performed heroically, doing much to lift Brazil into a self-consciously modern era symbolised by the very look of Brasilia. Beautiful…but liveable? Kubitschek’s design team camped out for the duration in a purpose-built cabin – it is still there today – where the president himself had a bedroom. The city rose with breathtaking speed, making maximum, and optimum, use of cheap and readily available concrete, a material that Niemeyer, almost more than any other architect, transformed into a notably, and perhaps unexpectedly, sensuous medium.

The glorious curves of his characterful buildings – they belonged very much to Brazil despite being designed in what was thought of as an “international” style – brought a vivaciousness and glamour to Modern Movement design. Niemeyer has even said that his designs were influenced by the curves of the bodies of women he could see displaying themselves on Copacabana Beach from his studio in the heart of Rio de Janeiro. But, although Niemeyer, Costa and Marx were a brilliant and prolific team, they were unable to give Brasilia a life beyond that of a government and civil service city. In fact, ever since the new capital was inaugurated in April 1960, its airport has been crowded on Friday afternoons as very many of those who live and work here in the week make a hasty weekend exit to the very human delights of Rio, which had been the capital of Brazil from 1763 to 1960 and still feels as it is the real thing today. Brasilia was planned for a population of just 500,000, but today this has risen to 2.8 million and more than four million including satellite towns.

There are several suburbs – of these distinctly unplanned settlements – where you will find a life and a spirit very different to that of the elegant set-piece architecture and rational street plans of central Brasilia itself. Where, though, in a traditional city these satellite settlements would form a part of an urban whole – the ‘east ends’ of a city – here they are cut off from the core of the capital. View image of (Thinkstock) (Credit: Thinkstock) This, though, has been true of many of the attempts made, over thousands of years, to create ideal planned cities whether by monarchs, emperors or republican governments. The truly great cities that have thrived over centuries and even millennia – Rome, London, Shanghai among them – have done so because they have developed largely organically and with all strands of their complex lives woven together, if not ideally then intimately and humanely. They have been built where physical, and trade, conditions have been more or less ideal and where there has been a plentiful supply of water and easy access to the sea even when set, like London, miles from the oceans’ waves.

As a result, traditional cities are also resilient entities, capable of expanding and contracting with rising and falling tides in trade or with political fortunes or even natural catastrophes like plague and fire. Human touch Highly planned, ideal cities, however, are – as history tells us in no uncertain terms – more brittle and less able to adapt to circumstances than their unplanned, or organic, counterparts. No matter how much – Canberra, Ottawa, Chandigarh and New Delhi try – and despite the occasional magnificence of their principal buildings, they seem, resolutely, to lack the warmth and human spirit that characterises Sydney, Calcutta, London and Rio de Janeiro. Just as we cannot create a perfect person,the perfect city is apparently beyond us. Think of the case of Fatephur Sikri, the magnificent new capital city created by the Mughal Emperor Akbar in mountains of crafted red sandstone in the late 17th Century. It was abandoned just a few years after completion because of a lack of water. Before and since, ideal cities have been just that: ideals, or ideas that have been impossible to live up to.

Some, of course, have been slightly insane from the beginning like the vision of a new city of a million people on Tokyo Bay dreamed up by the American inventor Buckminster Fuller for the Japanese media mogul Matsutaro Shoriki in the early 1960s. This was to have taken the form of a titanic floating tetrahedron. Here was one of those science-fiction-style visions of the ‘60s that imagined us living hermetic lives in futuristic megastructures when, in reality, most peopled preferred to walk in city streets and squares open to sun and sky. View image of (Thinkstock) (Credit: Thinkstock) The Shoriki city – the unrealised plan ended with the mogul’s death in 1966 – was one of many envisaged by wealthy businessmen and corporations in the 20th Century. Today, a large number of ideal cities are planned in the Middle East – the products of business corporations. The $20bn, two-square-mile Kingdom City in Jeddah, planned around the world’s tallest building, the Kingdom Tower, has been commissioned by the Kingdom Holding Company owned by Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal.

Successful, and likeable, cities are, however, the product of the dreams, ideals, ventures and gambles of many different coalescing and clashing businesses, individuals and other bodies. When designed for a single purpose, or by powerful individuals alone, “ideal” cities tend to fail. Partly, this is a question of scale. It is possible to plan small ideal towns as found in Renaissance Italy, the Cambrian coast of Wales at Portmeirion, a romantic holiday town designed by the architect Sir Clough Williams-Ellis, or in the depths of Dorset where Poundbury waves a flag for the traditional architectural values of this new town’s patron, the Prince of Wales. View image of (Chronus/The Monumental Axis/Wikimedia Commons/CC BY 3.0 br) (Credit: Chronus/The Monumental Axis/Wikimedia Commons/CC BY 3.0 br) Cities are much bigger, more complex, more diverse and less controllable entities than these.

They are at their physical best, perhaps, when attempts are made to plan them – with fine new buildings, streets, squares and public services – even as their industry and sheer vivacity makes planning them as difficult as finding a natural spot to sit down and relax in Brasilia. And, yet, what a magnificent achievement Brasilia was, in so short a time, conveying to the world that here was a country at the dawn on a new era ready to take on the world. Today, alongside Venice and Bath, this monumental and compelling modern city is a Unesco World Heritage Site – although as Oscar Niemeyer told me, “Brasilia? It was a blast!” If you would like to comment on this story or anything else you have seen on BBC Culture, head over to our Facebook page or message us on Twitter . Brasilia History, Brazil | Travelgrove.com Brasilia History, Brazil Travel Guides > South America > Brazil > Brasilia History The city of Brasilia, the majestic capital of Brazil, is a fine example of tasteful modern architecture. The city lies on the Planato Central, a plateau in the Central-Western region of the country. Although Brasilia is a very young city, it was declared a World Heritage Site.

The city’s main advantages are its masterful urban planning and its beautiful architecture, which draw quite a large number of tourists every year. Not only architecture aficionados are coming to spend their holidays in Brasilia, regular tourists are also in for a good time. Brasilia is among the top most visited cities in Brasilia, although it is placed after popular destinations such as Sao Paulo , Rio, or the nearby Goiania . This Brasilia History Guide briefly describes the major events in the history of this intriguing city. Brasilia History Guide - Foundation Although Brasilia is referred to as a city, this expression is somewhat incorrect. Although most cities in Brazil are municipalities, Brasilia does not have this status. In fact, Brasilia is one of a kind. It did not exist until 1960, but it has been planned for nearly two centuries. In 1823, José Bonifácio de Andrade e Silva, one of Brazil’s national heroes, proposed to move the capital from Rio de Janeiro to a more sheltered region, less exposed to attacks. For a century, the city remained just a clever but improbable plan.

In 1922, however, the first stone of Brasilia was laid in the Planato Central. Brasilia History Guide - Construction The president of Brazil, Juscelino Kubitschek, initiated an urbanization plan for Brasilia, called the Company of Urbanization of the New Capital, or NOVOCAP. The person in charge of the project was Oscar Niemeyer, a young and promising architect. Urbanist Lúcio Costawon the public contest with his groundbreaking design, the Plano Piloto. The president, whose motto was “fifty years in five”, did all he could to make the city one of the hallmarks of Brazil’s economic soar. He preferred to have highways built instead of railways, and invited some major American car producers to open branches in the new city. Kubitschek insisted that the city should be inaugurated during his term, so Brasilia was officially declared the capital of Brazil in 1960, before it was even completed. This Brasilia History Guide recommends that you visit the Juscelino Kubitschek Memorial, dedicated to the life and work of the city's founder.

Brasilia History Guide - The City Today Since its inauguration, Brasilia has known a surge of growth that was not foreseen by its planners. The city was designed as the headquarters for governmental institutions, but people from the surrounding satellite cities migrated to Brasilia in hope of finding better career opportunities. Workers from the surrounding areas, who helped build the cities, stayed on even after the construction was finished. These candangos, as they were called, had a major contribution to the expansion of the city. In 1987, UNESCO declared Brasilia a World Heritage Site. Although nowadays Brasilia is still being criticized for being too artificial, organized and devoid of the human element, the city is definitely worth visiting. Brasilia, the capital of Brazil - YouTube Brasilia, the capital of Brazil Want to watch this again later? Sign in to add this video to a playlist. Need to report the video? Sign in to report inappropriate content. Rating is available when the video has been rented. This feature is not available right now. Please try again later. Uploaded on Oct 13, 2007 Brasilia was built to be Brazil's new capital city.

The idea was to transfer the federal capital of Brazil from the coast to midwestern / interior of the country. Brazil had had two capital cities before that: Rio de Janeiro and Salvador da Bahia. By transferring the capital city to the interior, the government intended to help to populate that area of the county. People from all over the country were hired to build the city, but especially those from the Northeast region of Brazil. Brasilia is known, internationally, for having applied the principles established in the Athens Charter of 1933. President Juscelino Kubitschek ordered the construction of Brasília, fulfilling an article of the country's constitution stating that the capital should be moved from Rio de Janeiro to a place close to the center of the country. Lúcio Costa won a contest and was the main urban planner. Oscar Niemeyer, a close friend of Lúcio, was the chief architect of most public buildings and Roberto Burle Marx was the landscape designer. Brasília was built in 41 months, from 1956 to April 21, 1960 when it was officially inaugurated.

From 1763 to 1960, Rio de Janeiro was the capital of Brazil. At this time, resources tended to be centred in Brazil's southeast region near Rio de Janeiro. Brasília's geographical central location made for a more regionally neutral federal capital. The idea of placing Brazil's capital in the interior dates back to the first republican constitution of 1891, which roughly defined where the federal district should be placed, but the site itself was not defined until 1922. Brasília's location, it was argued, would promote the development of Brazil's central region and better integrate the entire territory of Brazil. According to a legend, Italian saint Don Bosco in 1883 had a prophetic dream in which he described a futuristic city that roughly fitted Brasília's location. Today, in Brasília, there are many references to this educator who founded the Salesian order. One of the main cathedrals in the city bears his name. Brasília is the result of a modern urban project designed by Lúcio Costa.

When seen from above, the city's pilot plan resembles the shape of an airplane -- many prefer to refer to it as a bird with open wings --, although the architect's original urban concept pointed to the shape of a cross, to symbolize possession. The city's project is, up to this day, a world reference when the issue is urban planning. The idea of spreading residential buildings around expansive urban areas, of tracing the city plan around large avenues and dividing it into sectors, has produced an intense debate and reflections on life in big cities in the 20th century. The city also hosts a varied assortment of art works from great artists like Bruno Giorgi, Alfredo Ceschiatti, Athos Bulcão, Marienne Peretti, Volpi, Di Cavalcanti, Victor Brecheret and Burle Marx, whose works have been integrated into the city's architecture, making it a unique landscape. A scene for political events, music performances and movie festivals, Brasília is a cosmopolitan city, with around 90 embassies, a wide range of restaurants and complete infrastructure ready to host any kind of event.

Not surprisingly, the city stands out as an important business tourism destination, which is a rising segment of the local economy, crowding dozens of hotels spread around the national capital. The Brazilian capital is the only city in the world built in the 20th century to be awarded (in 1987) the status of Historical and Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO, a specialized agency of the United Nations. And there are plenty of reasons for such renown: this young city, inaugurated in 1960, surprises even the most experienced travellers. Category Burajil - definition of Burajil by The Free Dictionary Burajil - definition of Burajil by The Free Dictionary Also found in: Thesaurus , Encyclopedia , Wikipedia . Brazil Bra·zil (brə-zĭl′) A country of eastern South America. The largest country in the continent, it was ruled by Portugal from 1500 to 1822, when it became a separate empire ruled by Pedro I, son of King John VI of Portugal. A republic was established in 1889. Brasília has been the capital since 1960; São Paulo is the largest city.

Bra·zil′i·an adj. & n. brazil brasil n 1. (Plants) Also called: brazil wood the red wood obtained from various tropical leguminous trees of the genus Caesalpinia, such as C. echinata of America: used for cabinetwork 2. (Dyeing) the red or purple dye extracted from any of these woods. See also brazilin 3. (Plants) short for brazil nut [C14: from Old Spanish brasil, from brasa glowing coals, of Germanic origin; referring to the redness of the wood; see braise] Brazil (brəˈzɪl) n (Placename) a republic in South America, comprising about half the area and half the population of South America: colonized by the Portuguese from 1500 onwards; became independent in 1822 and a republic in 1889; consists chiefly of the tropical Amazon basin in the north, semiarid scrub in the northeast, and a vast central tableland; an important producer of coffee and minerals, esp iron ore. Official language: Portuguese. Religion: Roman Catholic majority. Currency: real.

Capital: Brasília. Pop: 201 009 622 (2013 est). Area: 8 511 957 sq km (3 286 470 sq miles) Bra•zil (brəˈzɪl) n. a federal republic in South America. 171,853,126; 3,286,170 sq. mi. (8,511,180 sq. km). Cap.: Brasília. Official name, Fed′erative Repub′lic of Brazil′. Portuguese, Brasil. Bra•zil′ian, adj., n. ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend: Noun 1.

Brazil - the largest Latin American country and the largest Portuguese speaking country in the world; located in the central and northeastern part of South America; world's leading coffee exporter Brasil , Federative Republic of Brazil macumba - (Brazil) followers of a religious cult of African origin OAS , Organization of American States - an association including most countries in the western hemisphere; created in 1948 to promote military and economic and social and cultural cooperation Triple Frontier - the border area where Argentina and Brazil and Paraguay meet; an active South American center for contraband and drug trafficking and money laundering; a suspected locale for Islamic extremist groups Acre - a territory of western Brazil bordering on Bolivia and Peru Belem , Feliz Lusitania , Santa Maria de Belem , St.

Mary of Bethlehem , Para - port city in northern Brazil in the Amazon delta; main port and commercial center for the Amazon River basin Belo Horizonte - city in southeastern Brazil to the north of Rio de Janeiro; the first of Brazil's planned communities Brasilia , Brazilian capital , capital of Brazil - the capital of Brazil; a city built on the central plateau and inaugurated in 1960 Curitiba - a city in southeastern Brazil Joao Pessoa - a city in northeastern Brazil near the Atlantic Ocean to the north of Recife Governador Valadares - a city in eastern Brazil to the northeast of Belo Horizonte Limeira - a city of southeastern Brazil (northwest of Sao Paulo) Natal - a port city in northeastern Brazil Rio , Rio de Janeiro - the former capital and 2nd largest city of Brazil; chief Brazilian port; famous as a tourist attraction Pernambuco , Recife - a port city of northeastern Brazil on the Atlantic Santos - a port city in southwestern Brazil on an offshore island near Sao Paulo Sao Bernardo do Campo - a city in southeastern Brazil; an industrial suburb of Sao Paulo Sao Goncalo - an industrial city in southeastern Brazil across the bay from Rio de Janeiro Sao Joao de Meriti - a

 city in southeastern Brazil that is a residential suburb of Rio de Janeiro Sao Jose dos Campos - a city in southeastern Brazil to the northeast of Sao Paulo Sao Louis - a city on an offshore island in northeast Brazil Sao Paulo - an ultramodern city in southeastern Brazil; the largest city in South America Amazon River , Amazon - a major South American river; arises in the Andes and flows eastward into the South Atlantic; the world's 2nd longest river (4000 miles) Araguaia , Araguaia River , Araguaya , Araguaya River - a river in central Brazil that flows generally northward (with many falls) to join the Tocantins River Iguassu , Iguassu Falls , Iguazu , Iguazu Falls , Victoria Falls - a large waterfall on the border between Argentina and Brazil Madeira , Madeira River - a Brazilian river; tributary of the Amazon River Para River , Para - an estuary in northern Brazil into which the Tocantins River flows Parana , Parana River - a South American river; tributary of Rio de la Plata Parnahiba , Parnaiba - a river in northeastern Brazil that flows generally northward to the Atlantic Ocean

 Paulo Afonso , Paulo Afonso Falls - a major waterfall in northeastern Brazil Purus , Purus River - a Brazilian river; tributary of the Amazon River Sao Francisco - a river in eastern Brazil flowing into the Atlantic Ocean

Question: Braslia has been the capital of Brazil since 1960. Where was the capital before that?
Answer: Rio de Janeiro