Brasília is the capital of Brazil. This out-and-out planned city was founded in 1960 in the country’s Central Highlands. Located at the heart of Brazil, it is home to modernist architecture and many other attractions that draw visitors from all over the world.  In addition to this, the city is also a major transportation hub for travel within the country.

Brasilia’s basic structure was completed in only four years (1956-1960) with the slogan “50 years of progress in 5”. This was under the leadership of the then-president Juscelino Kubitschek. The city replaced Rio de Janeiro as Brazil’s capital.

Half a century later, Brasilia stands as one of the liveliest, wealthiest, and most beautiful cities in South America. While many Brazilians claim that Rio de Janeiro remains the country’s heart and soul, there is no denying that the capital city is Brazil’s modern center. Some even claim Brasilia is close to being an urban paradise.

Everything about Brasilia is orderly and clean. Unlike many other major cities, traffic jams are virtually nonexistent in the city and pollution is not much of a problem. The dining and shopping scene is also superb, while the nightlife is positively energetic. In addition, this lovely city is situated in a prime real estate; it is bounded by the Lake Paranoa and sits atop the Planalto Plateau.

What really stands out about Brasilia is the fact that it is an excellently planned place. It has been said that the city’s architectural layout is patterned after a bird in flight. From its residential districts and administrative to bridges and streets, every minute detail was wisely planned for the perfect urban living. You will find in Brasilia the world’s widest road, the Monumental Axis.

The Brazilian capital is the only twentieth-century urban place to ever have been included in the list of World Heritage Sites by UNESCO. This gorgeous city is a picture of modern architecture, and millions of tourists visit the city every year. It is full of impressive monuments and buildings; many visitors attest that Brasilia is like a huge open-air museum.

With an extraordinary design that features 16 identical columns, the Cathedral of Brasilia is perhaps the city’s crowning glory. This magnificent architecture is a masterpiece of Oscar Niemeyer. Next to the Cathedral of Brasilia is the Santuario Dom Bosco. It is an architectural wonder fashioned out of roughly 7,400 pieces of Murano glass.