Brazil - The Rough Guide to South America on a Budget - page 316

Ministérios. The bare facade was covered
with fancy - and, to many, elitist
- marble tiles during the military
dictatorship, but with the return to
democracy they were removed, revealing
the concrete pillars and waterfalls
between them, cascading pleasantly into
pools below.
A more worthwhile visit is the Palácio
Itamarati , the vast external relations
structure directly opposite (Mon-Fri
2-4.30pm, Sat & Sun 10am-3.30pm,
guided tours by appointment, dress code
as above; free; T 61 2030 8006).
Combining modern and classical styles,
it's built around elegant courtyards,
gardens, and a surfeit of sculptures,
including Bruno Giorgi's stunning
marble Meteor . Inside, the building's
spaciousness, set off by modern art and
wall hangings, is breathtaking.

BRASÍLIA ONLINE
W aboutbrasilia.com Facts and

information along with city satellite
maps.
W candango.com.br Not in English,

but great for listings and festivals.
W vemviverbrasilia.com.br Decent
what's on guide supported by Brasília
tourism agency Setur.
W vejabrasil.abril.com.br/brasilia
Veja magazine's online selection of
the city's best restaurants and bars
(in Portuguese).

3

Pátria Tancredo Neves (daily 9am-6pm;
free), dedicated to ten Brazilian national
heroes, with murals and painted glass.
Nearby, the Museu Histórico de Brasília
(Mon-Sat 9am-1pm & 2-5pm; free)
tells the story of the transfer of the capital
from Rio and features a large-scale model
of the city. Catedral Metropolitana, Museu

Nacional and Teatro Nacional
Between the ministries and the
downtown rodoviária (within walking
distance of either), the striking Catedral
Metropolitana Nossa Senhora Aparecida
(daily 7am-6.30pm; no shorts allowed)
marks the spot where the city was

Palácio da Justiça and
Palácio Itamarati
he Palácio da Justiça (Mon-Fri
10am-noon & 3-5pm; dress code as
above; free) is beside the Congresso on
the northern side of the Esplanada dos

CRACKING THE ADDRESS CODES
While initially confusing, Brasília's address system does eventually make finding places easier
than in cities with named streets. For example: SQN 210, Bloco B - 503, means superquadra
north no. 210, building B, apartment 503. The superquadra number (210) is the location, the
first digit the direction east or west of the Eixo Rodoviário, with odd numbers to the west and
even numbers to the east; the numbers increase as you get further from the centre. The final
two digits give the distance north or south of the Eixo Monumental. The logic also applies to
roads: even numbers apply east of the Eixão, odd to the west; a letter in front indicates the side
of the Eixão it runs, eg L for east ( leste ) or W for west. Some other helpful terms:
Asa Norte/Asa Sul The city's two “wings”
( asas ), north and south.
CLN/CLS or SCLN/SCLS Comércio Local
Norte/Sul . Shopping blocks interspersed
throughout the residential superquadras of
Asa Norte and Asa Sul.
EQN/EQS Entrequadras Norte/Sul. The area
between quadras at Eixinhos's edge.
SBN/SBS Setor Bancário Norte/Sul . Two bank
districts, either side of Eixo Monumental.
SCN/SCS Setor Comercial Norte/Sul . Two
commercial o ce areas set back from the
shopping centres.

SDN/SDS Setor de Diversıes Norte/Sul . Two
shopping centres ( conjuntos ) on either side
of Eixo Monumental.
SEN/SES Setor de Embaixadas Norte/Sul .
The embassy areas east of the bank
sectors.
SHIN/SHIS Setor de Habitaçıes Individuais
Norte/Sul . Two peninsulas jutting into Lago
Paranoá.
SQN/SQS or SHCN/SHCS Superquadras
Norte/Sul . Individual superquadras in
the residential wings Asa Norte and
Asa Sul.