By Monica Barros
One of host cities that was most shaken by the arrival of world Cup he was Belo Horizonte. A capital mining attracted many fans from all over the world, even English royalty! Fully occupied hotels, streets full of people, bars full of people with lots of energy to watch the championship matches. On the day of game and Argentina, once again the siblings They showed that they are no joke and dominated the city. You could only hear the Spanish accent there. And today, in game against Germany, the city will boil again.
Who chose to go to BH At that time he had no regrets. There are many attractions in the city, as well as several tours to the surrounding area suggested by official tourist guides. The main one currently is the Inhotim Cultural Institute of Contemporary Arteven indicated by the English newspaper The Guardian as a mandatory place to visit. In around 3 or 4 days you can see most of these attractions, and the ideal is to rent a car to have more flexibility and put into practice the itinerary suggested here.
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Belo Horizonte
Pampulha Lagoon – The most known city postcard, covering a fairly large area. Around it, there are several attractions: Church of São Francisco de Assis da Pampulha, designed by Oscar Niemeyer in 1943; Amusement park with Ferris wheel; walking and running track, Pampulha Art Museum; stadium Mineirão, famous for being the scene of great disputes and place of World Cup games. Prince Harry was there! Pay attention only on game days, as nearby streets are usually closed to cars.
Mangabeiras Viewpoint – The sunset in BH It’s an old acquaintance. Despite not having a beach, the city provides one of the most beautiful views at the end of the day, showing why it was named with that name. To get to the Mirante and have a panoramic view, you need to climb the Mangabeiras neighborhood. It is also in this area that the Palácio das Mangabeiras, the governor’s residence, is located.
Mangabeiras Park – A large green area close to Serra do Curral, with leisure options and landscaping designed by Burle Marx. It is the city’s cultural heritage and one of the residents’ favorites, offering rest and sports areas. Considered one of the most important parks in the city, it is a mandatory stop for tourists.
Liberty Square – Famous square that usually fills up on Sundays. It is very beautiful, with beautiful trees, a fountain and bandstand, where music performances take place on weekends. Surrounding it is also the Niemeyer Building and the Public Library.
Banco do Brasil BH Cultural Center – It is right in front of Praça da Liberdade. Always with interesting exhibitions, the eye-catching 1926 building became home to the CCBB in 2009. With its internal staircase and beautiful stained glass windows, it is worth a visit.
Central Market – It’s where people go in search of typical foods and crafts. Since 1929, the market has welcomed miners and people from outside wanting to know a little more about the “intimacy” of the capital. There is a restaurant option for those who want a local flavor.
Savassi – Noble region known for having the liveliest nightlife in BH. It has a large number of bars and restaurants. During the World Cup, the place was buzzing and packed! Everyone looking for good beer and big screens to watch the games
Lourdes – Sophisticated restaurants and sidewalks that offer a parade for the eyes. A place of beautiful people, this upper-middle class neighborhood is a gastronomic hub where you can find, among others, French cuisine and “chic” Minas Gerais cuisine. Highly valued residential buildings are found here, its tree-lined streets make this region quite sought after.
Surroundings
Lapinha Cave – Located in Lagoa Santa, about 20 minutes from the center of BH. In addition to the famous lagoon, which is popular for weekend leisure, this is where the Sumidouro State Park is located. Its main attraction is Gruta da Lapinha, where tours of around 1 hour are offered with authorized guides, who take tourists to see the incredible rock formations. With ancient stalactites and stalagmites, the cave is completely lit from the inside, providing an impressive view. It was in this region that the first inhabitants of Brazil settled, thousands of years ago. Many fossils of animals and humans were found here, such as that of Luzia, the oldest Brazilian ancestor.
Serra do Cipó – For those who like tours in contact with nature and sporting activities, this is the ideal place. Located in the Serra do Cipó National Park, about 90 km from the capital of Minas Gerais, there are many trail options and beautiful waterfalls. Specialist guides can be hired for tours, which must be booked in advance. Many consider that some of the most beautiful waterfalls in Brazil are here.
Inhotim – The Inhotim Cultural Institute of Contemporary Art, opened in 2006, has left everyone who visits it amazed. The museum was built in the small town of Brumadinho, 60 km from BH, occupying an impressive area of 786 hectares, and has established itself as one of the most important collections of modern art in Latin America. With works by renowned artists, including Adriana Varejão, Vik Muniz, Tunga, Hélio Oiticica, Chris Burden and Yayoi Kusama, all are surprising and very large in size.
Perhaps the most unusual work is the sensational “The Sound of the Earth”, by Doug Aitken. It is a large round glass room isolated in one of the highest parts of the park. Entering the premises, absolute silence is required. As we stay inside looking at empty space, we hear the Earth vibrate and produce sounds, often quite loud, captured live through several microphones installed around 200 meters below. It’s absolutely thrilling.
The museum is almost entirely interactive, adults and children have fun with installations such as Magic Square, Bisected Triangle, Cosmococa and Beam drop.
Inhotim is also a botanical garden. Its green area is beautiful, engaging, people stroll pleasantly along the edge of the immense lakes, admire the countless animals that live there freely, and relax on the magnificent seats made from huge wooden trunks.
With all this, the Institute also has several bars and snack bars, as visitors spend the whole day there, and the elegant and modern restaurants Oiticica and Tamboril are great gastronomic options. A hotel will soon be opened on site, which will have a village concept, with a swimming pool, restaurant and space for events, making this cultural center even more complete.
A place that attracts more and more Brazilians and foreigners, Inhotim is without a doubt a totally unmissable trip!
Photos: Monica Barros
