Brasília: Civic Tour of the Modernist Capital

About this activity

Brasília is the only 20th-century city inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list, and walking through its civic axis means stepping inside an idea built from concrete, curve and horizon. In two hours, with a professional guide, you will discover the monuments that express the identity of an entire country.

The starting point is Brasília Shopping, from where you travel by shared transport towards the city’s civic centre. The first stop is the Quartel General do Exército, with its Concha Acústica, where the guide introduces the architectural complex and the historical context that gave rise to it. Next comes the Catedral Metropolitana, the most recognisable monument in Brasília, with an interior visit, time to take in the stained glass and to browse the Cathedral shop and the craft market held in front of it.

The most striking moment of the route is the walk through Praça dos Três Poderes. There, within a few metres of one another, stand the Supremo Tribunal Federal, the Palácio do Planalto, the Museu Histórico de Brasília, the Espaço Lúcio Costa, the Panteão da Pátria, the Pira da Pátria and the Pavilhão Nacional. The guide leads an interpretive reading of the country’s political and cultural symbols, and there is time to take photographs without rushing.

Along the way, from the vehicle, you will also pass the Congresso Nacional, the Esplanada dos Ministérios, the Palácio do Itamaraty, the Teatro Nacional Cláudio Santoro, the Torre de TV, the Memorial JK, the Estádio Nacional Mané Garrincha, the Palácio do Buriti and the Memorial dos Povos Indígenas, among other landmarks. The order of the route and the selection of panoramic points are defined by the guide on the day itself, depending on traffic, weather and how busy each site is.