Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
inspired. The costs have proved to be more environmental than financial, with the
rapid conversion of much of the
planalto
to farmland and the destruction of forest
along the Belém-Brasília highway corridor. As ever, those with most cause to complain
were the
indigenous peoples
of the
planalto
, notably the
Xavante
, who did what they
could to halt the tide, but by the 1970s they were all confined to reservations a fraction
of the size of their previous territories.
6
The Esplanada dos Ministérios
The focus of the Brazilian government complex, known as the
Esplanada dos
Ministérios
, is the unmistakeable twin towers of the Congress building. All of the
structures here are within a few minutes' walk of each other and entrance is free to
those that are open to the public. Niemeyer designed them all, and they're rightly
regarded as among the best modernist buildings in the world. The combination of
white marble, water pools, reflecting glass and the airy flying buttresses on the
presidential palace and supreme court make these buildings remarkably elegant.
At night floodlighting and internal lights make them even more impressive; a slow
walk or bus ride around the Esplanada in the early evening, when people are still
working and the buildings glow like Chinese lanterns, is a must.
Praça dos Três Poderes
At the centre of the government complex is the
Praça dos Três Poderes
, which means
Square of Three Powers, those being the legislature (Congress), executive (president)
and judiciary (law courts). The ugly flagpole at the centre of the square was installed by
Brazil's military regime over Niemeyer's protests.
Stadium
914
Memorial JK
715
913
714
ACCOMMODATION
Hostel 7
Hotel Diamantes
Pousada Brasília
Pousada JK
2
1
3
3
315
912
713
314
Memorial dos
Povos Indígenas
911
313
712
114
Parque da Cidade
910
312
711
909
113
214
112
311
710
907
112 Sul
709
213
310
111
906
708
212
309
413
110
707
905
110 Sul
904
308
211
706
412
109
903
705
902
210
307
901
108
411
704
306
108 Sul
209
Ciné
Brasília
107
703
612
410
305
208
106
611
304
409
106 Sul
105
610
303
813
207
408
302
104
609
206
104 Sul
103
407
608
102
205
102 Sul
406
204
607
811
809
405
Central
203
606
404
202
Galeria
605
403
Rodoviária
Central
Restaurant
Complex
ASA SUL
604
402
HIGHLIGHTS
Catedral Metropolitana
Memorial JK
Memorial dos
Povos Indígenas
807
603
805
602
601
SETOR DE
EMBAIXADAS SUL
(SES)
Catedral Metropolitana
803
ESPLANADA
DOS MINISTÉRIOS
801
JK Bridge & Jardim Botânico
