Belo Horizonte is a perfect place to visit, not because you will see a lot of churches and other monuments entirely focused on tourists. The capital of Minas Gerais is a place you have to visit because it will make you feel like you were part of this friendly city and will allow you to join the resident’s routine and to experiment the great food and the great weather.
If you have kids and you want to take them to Brazil on your next trip, then Belo Horizonte might be the right choice. You can get there by bus or by plane coming from cities like Rio de Janeiro or São Paulo, and if you rent a car you can take the opportunity to know a lot of beautiful and natural places that surround it – like the landscapes from the National Park of Serra do Cipó and the waterfalls from Macacos.
Either way, there are a lot of beautiful urban spots you can show your children while they play with other kids or have ice cream during a short and light walk. Here a list of three of these places, that are very popular and easy to find.
1. Praça da Liberdade – the cultural spot
This square is located at the heart of Savassi, one of the oldest and noblest regions of Belo Horizonte, and is the main attraction of the Circuito Cultural Praça da Liberdade. This cultural circuit also integrates the Palácio da Liberdade, the official workplace of the governor of Minas Gerais, the Museu das Minas e do Metal, a museum dedicated to the history of mining activity, and other museums and art spots. So, you can spend a whole afternoon just visiting the places nearby or even just riding a bike or jogging around it.
A lot of cultural events take place in Praça da Liberdade, like public concerts, plays and art exhibitions. As it is central, there are many bars and restaurants nearby. A perfect place for spending Sunday afternoon!
2. Praça da Assembleia – the arborized square
This square is located next to the Legislative Assembly of Minas Gerais in Santo Agostinho, a traditional neighborhood in Belo Horizonte. It is perfect for the kids to have fun on the playgrounds and to enjoy and observe the native trees, while they play with roller skates. Also, for the adults, there are a few exercise equipment to work out on the warm afternoons. In the middle of this square, there is a beautiful and traditional church, the Church of Nossa Senhora de Fátima, open for visits and for services.
3. Praça do Papa – a perfect landscape
This square is very famous because it is located on the top of the main avenue in Belo Horizonte, the Afonso Pena Avenue, and it is approximately 1.100m high so that you can have a fantastic view over the whole city. Kids feel free to play and savor popcorn or ice cream while adults take pictures and admire the nature that surrounds it. Other interesting places around it are the Parque das Mangabeiras, a natural park designed by Burle Max, an internationally famous landscape architect, and Rua do Amendoim, a street famous for the illusion that objects can naturally go up on a slope.
Wherever you go in Belo Horizonte, do not miss the opportunity to talk with locals. I am sure they will be pleased to try and help you, even if they do not speak English. People from Minas Gerais are famous for their hospitality, which turns its capital even more interesting to discover!
© istock/ FelipeGoifman
The author
Romara Chaves
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