There are four states in the Central West Region: Goiás, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Distrito Federal (Federal District).

Brazil’s centre and heart have more to attract the visitor than might appear evident at first glance! Highlights include the architectural icon that is the nation’s capital, Brasília, and, further west, one of the planet’s greatest collections of flora and fauna, an area known as the Pantanal.

Brasília: Capital for the Future

It is Brasília – and not Rio de Janeiro or São Paulo – that is Brazil’s capital!

Brasília is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that is famous for its daring, original and modernist architecture and innovative urban planning.

It was President Juscelino Kubitschek, Brazil’s 21^st President, who made Brasília a reality. If John Kennedy wanted to put a man on the moon, Kubitschek was determined to build Brasília as the nation’s new capital and gave the go-ahead to start construction as soon as he took office in 1956. By 21 April 1960, with US President Eisenhower there for the celebration, the city was officially inaugurated.

The diplomatic, as well as the political community, also had to transfer from Rio de Janeiro to Brasília, and that allowed many foreign governments to build modern new embassies that reflected the spirit of their countries.

Brasília’s unique layout is often compared to an airplane, a bird in flight, or a bow and arrow. If it were a plane, the principal government and public buildings would be found along its ’fuselage’, while the ’wings’ would contain the residential areas along with its many bars, restaurants and hotels. Tourists have a great vantage point from the observation deck of the TV Tower.

Running through the ’fuselage’ is the ‘Monumental Axis’ (Eixo Monumental), which is lined by the most important government buildings, including the huge Palácio do Itamaraty that houses Brazil’s foreign ministry. The fuselage’s nose is home to the Houses of Parliament (Congresso Nacional) and the office of the president (Palácio do Planalto).

Outstanding architectural features include architect Oscar Niemeyer’s most famous creations, the Congresso Nacional, a building consisting of two 28-story-high towers flanked by the futuristic dome of the Senate and the ’saucer’ of the Chamber of Deputies. It is possible to arrange guided tours of the Congresso Nacional, the Palácio do Planalto and Palácio do Itamaraty, and to watch parliamentary debates from the public gallery.

The Metropolitan Cathedral that resembles a crown of thorns is another Niemeyer masterpiece. The city’s pyramid-shaped National Theatre (Teatro Nacional) is also a striking building. Its auditoriums are being used for a wide range of cultural events, including concerts by the city’s own symphony orchestra.

Due to Brasília’s strategic location, it is relatively easy for people touring Brazil to visit, if only for a 24-hour stopover. Most non-tourist visitors go to Brasília for meetings with the Brazilian Federal Government. Because of the working nature of Brasília, tourists will often find hotel rates are considerably cheaper from Friday to Monday.

Located in the heart of Brazil, Brasília has excellent flight connections to Rio and São Paulo, as well as the key cities in the Northeast. Flights between Rio, São Paulo, and Manaus (the main gateway to the Amazon) often stop in Brasília. There are also frequent flights to Cuiabá, one of the gateways to the Pantanal, while close by is the spectacular Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park.