Les meilleurs hôtels à Belo Horizonte

In contrast to the boisterous coastal cities of Brazil, Belo Horizonte -- capital of the state of Minas Gerais -- is a relatively quiet but populous town in the country's interior. The first major city in Brazil to be planned, Belo Horizonte was designed to be the state's capital and was originally modeled after Washington, D.C., with precisely laid out streets and avenues. Urbanization and a dramatic increase in population since the city's genesis in the 1940s have led to deviations in newer areas, but older areas of the city retain the expansiveness of the original designs. One of the most significant of the original architectural designs is the Pampulha Architectural Complex. Located five miles from downtown on the shores of an artificial lake, Pampulha is the site of four buildings designed by architect Oscar Niemeyer who gained worldwide fame in the 1950s with his contributions to another planned city -- the country's capital of Brasilia. Niemeyer's Pampulha architectural quartet includes the casino (now the Art Museum), the Sao Francisco de Assis Chapel, the ballroom, and the yacht club. His dramatic architecture was not an instant hit. The chapel's avant-guard lines generated so much controversy that the building wasn't consecrated as a place of worship until 1960. Besides its architectural significance, Belo Horizonte is also noteworthy for its cultural offerings. Over 50 colleges contribute to the intellectual life of the city, and numerous museums, theaters, and cultural centers provide artistic stimulation for residents and visitors. Belo Horizonte is also a gateway for visits to the historical towns of Ouro Preto (capital of Minas Gerais until it was moved to Belo Horizonte), Mariana, and Sabar  and to the ancient grottos of Lapinha and Maquin?.