5 curiosities about the capital of Brazil

Brasilia is the federal capital of Brazil and is located in the center-west region of the country. Known worldwide for its modernist architectural design and its emblematic buildings, it is also an important political and administrative center in the country, where the headquarters of the Federal Government and the National Congress are located. For this reason, the city frequently receives visits from national and international authorities, in addition to hosting important events and conferences.

Founded on April 21, 1960, Brasília is completing 63 years! So, to mark the anniversary of the last city planned and built from scratch in Brazil, we have separated five curiosities. Check out!

1. The construction

Planned by the architect and urban planner Lúcio Costa and under the guidance of the architect and urban planner Oscar Niemeyer, unlike most other Brazilian cities, had its structure planned from the beginning. This makes the city a model of complete and modern urban planning, recognized all over the world.

2. Aerial view

When you look from above, you can see that Brasilia has a resemblance to the shape of an airplane. However, this appearance was not intentionally planned from the beginning. In an interview with Rádio Nacional AM, the director of the Historical and Cultural Heritage, Jarbas Marques, revealed that the architect and urbanist responsible for the city’s original project, Lúcio Costa, had designed Brasília in the shape of a butterfly.

3. The biggest flag in the world

In Brasília, at Praça dos Três Poderes, where the buildings representing the Executive (Palácio do Planalto), Legislative (National Congress) and Judiciary (Federal Supreme Court) are located, there is a flag from Brazil huge. It was officially recognized by the Guinness Book of Records as the largest flag flown in the world. The flag is 286 m².

4. Lake Paranoá

Lake Paranoá is one of the attractions most famous in Brasilia, created during the construction of the city through the Paranoá River dam. Nearby, you can find several leisure options and artificial beaches.

5. No corners

Contrary to what you see in many cities, there are no street corners in Brasilia. This is due to the fact that the city was planned in blocks and sectors and that the main roads have a “scissors” format. In this way, the streets intersect without forming corners, which gives the city a unique appearance.