When in Brasilia
Brasilia, located in the heart of the country, as befits the nation's capital, is widely regarded as the world's most ambitious urban project.
Built in just three years between 1957 and 1960 by masses of locals on appalling wages, the Unesco World heritage site of Brasilia is famed for its ambitious planning, exciting architecture and huge population growth.
Today, the city receives mixed reactions from those who visit. Some say that it is testament to the great ability of modern planning and that it is one of the country's most comfortable and pleasant places to live. Others claim that it a soulless, treeless mass of concrete. Certainly the visitor looking to get around on foot will find it a disheartening experience. The city was designed very much with the car in mind and perambulating is far from pleasurable, especially when the temperatures are up.
The layout of the city is unique. Said to resemble the wingspan of a bird, each area of the city has been assigned a specific function, with housing, hospitals and the financial district kept as separate entities. Visitors too will find themselves clumped together in one of two hotel zones.
Although just experiencing the unique flavour of the city is the main attraction of Brasilia, there are a few tourist spots. The Praça dos Três Poderes houses the presidential palace, the supreme court and the Congress, which are some of the world's finest examples of modernist architecture. On April 21st, the sun rises between the Congress' two towers, marking the death of the Brazilian independence fighter, Tiradentes. For an overview of the city, head up the city's Television Tower, while on the fringes of the city, the Dom Bosco Church is extremely impressive and is famed for its crystal chandelier.
The country's climate is not too severe and temperatures are stable. July, August and September are extremely dry. The hottest month is that of September when temperatures can reach 28°C, while the coldest is generally July, with an average high of 25°C. May and June are often said to be the best times to go, as the weather is warm and the humidity not overpowering.
The Presidente Juscelino Kubitschek International Airport is seven miles from town and welcomes a whole host of national and international flights. There are always a large number of inexpensive taxis to take you in to town although buses 102 and 102.1 are far cheaper and get the job done as well.
Arriving from other parts of the country by bus is also easily accomplished. The city's Rodoviária-based bus terminal receives many buses each day from all over the country, with Rio just a 15 hour ride away.
Attempting to walk around the city is a huge mistake. Brasilia was designed with the intention that all its inhabitants would own cars. The recently opened subway is one option for getting about, although it stops running at 20:00. Buses are your best bet for getting to the places on the tourist trail; most start at the Rodoviária and tickets are bought on board.
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Introduction
