Brasilia Travel Guide

Edit Section - Brasilia Travel Guide - Hotels & Restaurants

Brasília is the capital of Brazil with a population of 2,282,049 [1]. Located in the Brazilian Federal District, the city is famous for its urban planning, daring architecture and rapid population growth. In English, the diacritical mark on the í is often omitted and the name written Brasilia.

Government

The federal district has an autonomous government and legislative powers, but the judiciary is upheld by the Union. The District Governor is elected directly for a 4-year term. Local laws are issued by a legislative assembly also elected by the local population. The district also has the status of a federal state in many aspects. It has representatives both in the Lower House of Congress (Câmara Federal) and in the national Senate. Moreover, Brasília is home to the country's federal government. The national executive, legislative and judicial powers are all located there.

A Planned City

President Juscelino Kubitschek ordered the construction of Brasília, enacting a long-forgotten article of the country's republican constitutions stating that the capital should be relocated from Rio de Janeiro. Its main urban planner was Lúcio Costa. Oscar Niemeyer was the chief architect of most of the public buildings and Roberto Burle Marx was the landscape designer. The city plan was based on the ideas of Le Corbusier. 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, and resources tended to be centred in Brazil's southeast region. Brasília’s geographically 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 would promote the development of Brazil's central region and better integrate the entire territory of Brazil.

According to legend, in 1883, the Italian priest Don Bosco 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 carries his name.

Travel Guide:

Ratings for Brasilia

Reviews for Brasilia


About VCarious \| What People Are Saying \| Share \| Contribute \| Terms \| Site Map \| Links \| Contact Us Copyright © 2006-2008 by VCarious. All Rights Reserved.