Belo Horizonte – where football is not the sole attraction

Locally referred as Beaga, Belo Horizonte look stunning with its mountainous terrain and tree lined avenues. The city may not be that spectacular due to urban sprawl but still charms vacationers. Beautiful pedestrian streets, colourful markets, great dining options and an array of entertainment activities make this one of the largest cities in Brazil a hot favourite among tourists from the different corners of the world. While walking the streets of Belo Horizonte you may feel that you are visiting a strolling through a street in Paris and Washington. The city is also a proud home of some beautiful specimens of architecture. Not standing on its laurels, the city is adding another feather to its cap as it is a proud host of 2014 FIFA World Cup. And the vacationers planning a trip would find there is a lot to see and do in Belo Horizonte than football. Here we take a view on major tourist attractions in Belo Horizonte.

Pampulha

Visit this area to see some of the highlights of contemporary architecture of Brazil. The visitors should also go to the São Francisco de Assis Church. You might mistake this building for an amusement park which is in reality a church. Not a surprise, Catholic Church refused to consecrate it for over a decade. Situated in proximity is Parque Guanabara, an amusement park that attracts visitors despite small size. The world-famous Iate Tenis Clube is also situated here.

Praça da Liberdade

This stunning Palm tree lined is surrounded by 19th century architectural marvels. There are several buildings that include historic seat of the State Government and other buildings.

Museum of Arts and Crafts

The city is also a good place for tourists with interest in arts and crafts. Museum of Arts and Crafts with its stunning exhibits is a great place for art lovers. The museum is based in 19th century building of Old Central Train Station. The collection gives an insight into popular work in Brazil before industrialisation. Those who want to know more about the history of the city should visit Museu Histórico Abílio Barreto. If you have some interest in natural history you should visit Museu de Ciencias Naturais where you can get an interesting insight into to the animal life of Brazil.

Mercado Central

This is the place you shouldn’t give a miss. Mercado Central with its more than 400 stores offers diverse products such as cheese, guava and milk sweets, arts and crafts, and medicinal herbs and roots. The market is popular among locals and foreigners.