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'{{Infobox settlement | name = Belo Horizonte | settlement_type = [[Municipalities of Brazil|Municipality]] | official_name = {{Plainlist| * ''Município de Belo Horizonte'' * Municipality of Belo Horizonte }} | nickname = {{Plainlist| * ''BH'' (pronounced "beagá") * ''The Garden City'' * ''Belô'' }} | image_skyline = Montagem Belo Horizonte.jpg | image_caption = Top left:Church of St. Francis of Assisi, Top right:Rui Barbosa Square (Praça Rui Barbosa), 2nd:Panorama view of Belo Horizonte, from Mangabeiras area, 3rd:Magalhaes Pinto Stadium, Bottom left:Administrative City President Tancredo Neves, Bottom right:Praça da Liberdade (Belo Horizonte Liberty Square) | image_flag = Bandeira de Belo Horizonte (Minas Gerais).svg | image_shield = Brasão de Belo Horizonte (Minas Gerais).svg | image_map = MinasGerais Municip BeloHorizonte.svg | mapsize = 250px | map_caption = Location in Minas Gerais | motto = | pushpin_map = Brazil | pushpin_map_size = 250 | pushpin_map_caption = Location in Brazil | coordinates_display = inline, title | coordinates_region = BR | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_type1 = [[Regions of Brazil|Region]] | subdivision_type2 = [[States of Brazil|State]] | subdivision_name = {{flag|Brazil}} | subdivision_name1 = [[Southeast Region, Brazil|Southeast]] | subdivision_name2 = [[File:Bandeira de Minas Gerais.svg|border|22px]] [[Minas Gerais]] | leader_title = Mayor | leader_name = [[Marcio Lacerda]] | leader_party = [[Brazilian Socialist Party|PSB]] (2013–2016) | established_title = Founded | established_date = 1701 | established_title2 = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]] (as city) | established_date2 = December 12, 1897 | unit_pref = Metric | area_magnitude = 1 E8 | area_total_km2 = 330.9 | elevation_m = 760 | elevation_footnotes = {{Citation needed|date=May 2015}} | area_land_km2 = | area_water_km2 = | area_water_percent = | area_urban_km2 = 282.3 | area_metro_km2 = 9459.1 | population_as_of = 2014 | population_metro = 5,156,217 (3rd) | population_footnotes = <ref>{{cite web|url=ftp://ftp.ibge.gov.br/Estimativas_de_Populacao/Estimativas_2014/estimativa_dou_2014.pdf |title=2014 population estimates. Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE) (1 July 2014). |publisher=Ibge.gov.br |date= |accessdate=September 14, 2014}}</ref> | population_total = 2,502,557 | population_rank = [[List of largest cities in Brazil|6th]] | population_urban = | population_density_km2 = | population_density_metro_km2 = | population_demonym_title = [[Demonym]] | population_demonym = Belo-horizontino | timezone = [[Time in Brazil|BRT]] | utc_offset = −3 | timezone_DST = [[Time in Brazil#Summer time|BRST]] | utc_offset_DST = −2 | coordinates_type = type:city | latd = 19 | latm = 55 | latNS = S | longd = 43 | longm = 56 | longEW = W | area_code = (+55) 31 | postal_code_type = Postal Code | postal_code = 30000-000 | blank_name = | blank_info = | website = [http://www.pbh.gov.br/ Belo Horizonte, MG] | maxtemp = | mintemp = | rainfall = | footnotes = }} '''Belo Horizonte''' ({{IPA-pt|ˌbɛloɾiˈzõtʃi}};<ref>This is the local pronunciation. Elsewhere in Brazil, it is pronounced {{IPA|[bɛlu oɾiˈzõtʃi]}}. In [[European Portuguese]], it is pronounced {{IPA|[bɛlu oɾiˈzõtɨ]}}</ref> ''Beautiful Horizon'') is the [[List of largest cities in Brazil|sixth largest city]] in [[Brazil]], the [[List of cities in South America|thirteenth largest city]] in [[South America]] and the [[Largest cities in the Americas|sixteenth largest city]] in the [[Americas]]. The metropolis is anchor to the [[Greater Belo Horizonte|Belo Horizonte metropolitan area]], ranked as the [[List of metropolitan areas in Brazil|third most populous metropolitan area]] in Brazil, the [[List of metropolitan areas in the Americas|nineteenth most populous]] in the [[Americas]] and the [[List of metropolitan areas by population|forty-second largest]] in the world. Belo Horizonte is the capital of [[States of Brazil|the state]] of [[Minas Gerais]], Brazil's [[List of Brazilian states by population|second most populous state]]. It is the first planned modern city in Brazil. The region was first settled in the early 18th century, but the city as it is known today was planned and constructed in the 1890s, in order to replace [[Ouro Preto]] as the capital of Minas Gerais. The city features a mixture of contemporary and classical buildings, and is home to several modern Brazilian architectural icons, most notably the [[Pampulha|Pampulha Complex]]. In planning the city, Aarão Reis and Francisco Bicalho sought inspiration in the urban planning of [[Washington, D.C.]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.v-brazil.com/tourism/minas-gerais/belo-horizonte.html |title=Belo Horizonte in Brazil Travel |publisher=V-brazil.com |date= |accessdate=2011-04-17}}</ref> The city has employed notable programs in urban revitalization and food security, for which it has been awarded international accolades. The city is built on several hills and is completely surrounded by [[mountain]]s.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.world66.com/southamerica/brazil/belohorizonte |title=About Belo Horizonte |publisher=World66.com |date= |accessdate=2011-04-17| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20110514054220/http://www.world66.com/southamerica/brazil/belohorizonte| archivedate= 14 May 2011 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}</ref> There are several large parks in the immediate surroundings of Belo Horizonte. The Mangabeiras Park (Parque das Mangabeiras), located {{convert|6|km|0|abbr=on}} south-east from the city centre in the hills of Curral Ridge (Serra do Curral), has a very broad view of the city. It has an area of {{convert|2.35|km2|acre|abbr=on}}, of which {{convert|0.9|km2|acre|abbr=on}} is covered by the native forest. The Jambeiro Woods (Mata do Jambeiro) nature reserve extends over {{convert|912|ha|acre}}, with vegetation typical of the [[Atlantic Forest|Atlantic forest]]. More than one hundred species of birds inhabit the reserve, as well as ten different species of mammals. Belo Horizonte was one of the host cities of the [[1950 FIFA World Cup|1950]] and the [[2014 FIFA World Cup]]. Additionally, the city shared the host of the [[2013 FIFA Confederations Cup]]. ==Geography== ===Surrounding cities and metropolitan area=== [[File:PraçaSeteBHMG.jpg|thumb|left|Praça Sete de Setembro (September 7th Square).]] [[File:Belo Horizonte (2).jpg|thumb|right|Praça da Liberdade (Liberty Square) and Downtown Belo Horizonte.]] The term "Grande BH" ("Greater Belo Horizonte") denotes any of various definitions for the metropolitan area of Belo Horizonte. The legally defined ''Metropolitan Region of Belo Horizonte'' consists of 34 municipalities in total, and a population of around five million inhabitants ({{As of|2007|lc=y}}, according to IBGE).<ref name="IBGE_Pop_2007">{{cite web| url = http://www.ibge.gov.br/home/estatistica/populacao/contagem2007/popmunic2007layoutTCU14112007.xls | title = Estimativas / Contagem da População 2007 | date = 2007-11-14 | publisher = Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE) | accessdate = 2008-05-29| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20080611205529/http://www.ibge.gov.br/home/estatistica/populacao/contagem2007/popmunic2007layoutTCU14112007.xls| archivedate= 11 June 2008 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}</ref><ref name="SIDRA">{{cite web | url = http://www.sidra.ibge.gov.br/bda/tabela/listabl.asp?z=cd&o=17&i=P&c=793 | title = Tabela 793 - População residente, em 1º de abril de 2007: Publicação Completa | date = 2007-11-14 | publisher = Sistema IBGE de Recuperação Automática (SIDRA) | accessdate = 2008-05-29}}</ref> The intense process of urbanization that is taking place in the metropolitan region has made some of the political boundaries between municipalities in the region obsolete. The city is now composed of a relatively contiguous urban area, centred on Belo Horizonte, which extends out into municipalities such as [[Contagem]], [[Betim]], [[Nova Lima]], [[Raposos]], [[Ribeirão das Neves]], [[Ibirité]], [[Santa Luzia, Minas Gerais|Santa Luzia]] and [[Sabará]], among others. The municipality bounded to the north by [[Vespasiano]], to the north east by Santa Luzia, by Sabará to the east, by Nova Lima to the southeast, [[Brumadinho]] to the south and Ribeirão das Neves, Contagem and [[Ibirité]] to the west. ===Geology and geomorphology=== [[File:Belo Horizonte vista sob o Mirante..jpg|thumb|left|The city from the Parque Estadual Serra do Rola-Moça.]] Belo Horizonte lies on a region of contact between different geological series of the [[Proterozoic]]. The geology largely comprises various [[crystalline rock]]s, which give rise to the varied morphology of the landscape. It is located in a large geological unit known as the [[craton]] of [[São Francisco River|San Francisco]], referring to extensive crustal nucleus of central-eastern Brazil, tectonically stable at the end of the [[Paleoproterozoic]] and bordering areas that suffered the regeneration at the [[Neoproterozoic]]. The [[archean]] rocks members of Belo Horizonte complex and supracrustal sequences of the Paleoproterozoic is predominant. The area of Belo Horizonte complex includes the geomorphological unit called ''Depression of Belo Horizonte'', which represents about 70% of the municipality area and has its greatest expression in the northern [[Ribeirão Arrudas]] (Rues Stream) pipeline. The [[metasedimentary]] rocks has its area of occurrence on the south of [[Ribeirão Arrudas]] pipeline, constituting about 30% of the area of Belo Horizonte. The characteristics of this area are lithological diversities and rugged topography, which has its maximum expression in the ''Serra do Curral'' (Corral Ridge), the southern boundary of the municipality. Its soil comprises a succession of layers of rocks of varied composition, represented by itabirite, [[dolomite]], [[quartzite]], filities and [[schist]]s different from the general direction northwest-southeast and dip to the southeast. The hills of Belo Horizonte are part of the [[Espinhaço Mountains]] and belong to the larger Itacolomi mountain chain. The highest point in the municipality is in the ''Serra do Curral'', reaching {{convert|1538|m|ft}}. ===Climate=== {{Further|Climate of Brazil}} [[File:Igreja de São Francisco de Assis - Lagoa da Pampulha.jpg|thumb|right|Pampulha lake.]] Belo Horizonte's [[latitude]] at 19'55"South places it in the [[tropical zone]]. Yearly temperatures average between {{convert|9|and|35|C|F|}}. The [[Köppen climate classification]] of the region is [[tropical savanna climate]] (''Aw'') and it borders on a [[humid subtropical climate]] (''Cwa''), (tropical on high altitudes, humid/warm summers and a dry/mild winters). Belo Horizonte is located about {{convert|300|km|mi|}} from the sea. Even though inter-seasonal differences are not as pronounced as they are in temperate places, there is a contrast between spring and summer, and between fall and winter. The coldest month is generally July, with a lowest recorded temperature of {{convert|2|°C|0|abbr=on}}. The hottest month is usually January, with a highest recorded temperature of {{convert|35.4|°C|0|abbr=on}}. The {{convert|852|m|ft|adj=on}} elevation{{Citation needed|date=May 2015}} of Belo Horizonte helps a little in cooling the city, suppressing high maximum air temperatures experienced in nearby cities at lower altitudes. Belo Horizonte's climate is mild throughout the year. Temperatures vary between {{convert|11|and|31|C|F}}, the average being {{convert|22|°C|0|abbr=on}}. Winter is dry and mostly sunny, and summer is rainy. {{Weather box |location = Belo Horizonte |metric first = yes |single line = yes |Jan record high C = 35.3 |Feb record high C = 35.2 |Mar record high C = 35.2 |Apr record high C = 32.8 |May record high C = 32.9 |Jun record high C = 30 |Jul record high C = 32 |Aug record high C = 34 |Sep record high C = 36.1 |Oct record high C = 37.4 |Nov record high C = 36.2 |Dec record high C = 35.5 |year record high C = 37.4 |Jan high C = 28.2 |Feb high C = 28.8 |Mar high C = 28.6 |Apr high C = 27.5 |May high C = 26 |Jun high C = 25 |Jul high C = 24.6 |Aug high C = 26.5 |Sep high C = 27.2 |Oct high C = 27.7 |Nov high C = 27.5 |Dec high C = 27.3 |Jan mean C = 23.5 |Feb mean C = 23.9 |Mar mean C = 23.7 |Apr mean C = 22.4 |May mean C = 20.5 |Jun mean C = 19.2 |Jul mean C = 18.9 |Aug mean C = 20.5 |Sep mean C = 21.7 |Oct mean C = 22.6 |Nov mean C = 22.9 |Dec mean C = 22.9 |Jan low C = 18.8 |Feb low C = 19 |Mar low C = 18.8 |Apr low C = 17.3 |May low C = 15 |Jun low C = 13.4 |Jul low C = 13.1 |Aug low C = 14.4 |Sep low C = 16.2 |Oct low C = 17.5 |Nov low C = 18.2 |Dec low C = 18.4 |Jan record low C = 12.5 |Feb record low C = 12.8 |Mar record low C = 11.7 |Apr record low C = 6.4 |May record low C = 5 |Jun record low C = 2.4 |Jul record low C = 2.2 |Aug record low C = 5.8 |Sep record low C = 5 |Oct record low C = 9.2 |Nov record low C = 11.4 |Dec record low C = 12.8 |year record low C = 2.2 |precipitation colour=green |Jan precipitation mm = 296.3 |Feb precipitation mm = 188.4 |Mar precipitation mm = 163.5 |Apr precipitation mm = 61.2 |May precipitation mm = 27.8 |Jun precipitation mm = 14.1 |Jul precipitation mm = 15.7 |Aug precipitation mm = 13.7 |Sep precipitation mm = 40.5 |Oct precipitation mm = 123.1 |Nov precipitation mm = 227.6 |Dec precipitation mm = 319.4 |year precipitation mm = 1491.3 |unit precipitation days= 0.1 mm |Jan precipitation days = 17 |Feb precipitation days = 13 |Mar precipitation days = 14 |Apr precipitation days = 7 |May precipitation days = 6 |Jun precipitation days = 2 |Jul precipitation days = 3 |Aug precipitation days = 4 |Sep precipitation days = 6 |Oct precipitation days = 10 |Nov precipitation days = 14 |Dec precipitation days = 20 |Jan humidity=79 |Feb humidity=75.1 |Mar humidity=74.7 |Apr humidity=73.9 |May humidity=72.5 |Jun humidity=71.4 |Jul humidity=68.7 |Aug humidity=64.5 |Sep humidity=65.1 |Oct humidity=69.8 |Nov humidity=74.1 |Dec humidity=78 |year humidity=72.23 |Jan sun = 189.1 |Feb sun = 197.8 |Mar sun = 213.9 |Apr sun = 228 |May sun = 235.6 |Jun sun = 240 |Jul sun = 257.3 |Aug sun = 254.2 |Sep sun = 210 |Oct sun = 189.1 |Nov sun = 183 |Dec sun = 164.3 |source 1 = World Meteorological Organization.,<ref name="WMO">[http://worldweather.wmo.int/136/c01062.htm Climate Information for Belo Horizonte], World Weather Information Service, accessed 07 August 2012.</ref> Hong Kong Observatory (sun only 1961-1990),<ref name="HKO">[http://www.weather.gov.hk/wxinfo/climat/world/eng/s_america/brazil/belo_horizonte_e.htm Climatological Information for Belo Horizonte, Brazil], Hong Kong Observatory, accessed 07 August 2012.</ref> Climate charts (humidity)<ref name="Climate Charts">{{Cite web |url=http://www.climate-charts.com/Locations/b/BZ83587.php |title=Belo Horizonte, Brazil: Climate, Global Warming, and Daylight Charts and Data (19°56'S 43°56'W, 850m) |publisher=Climate Charts |accessdate=2014-10-13 }}</ref> |source 2 = Weatherbase (record highs and lows)<ref name="Tempo Agora">{{cite web |url=http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather.php3?s=78538 |title=Weatherbase: Historical Weather for Belo Horizonte |accessdate=2012-08-07}}</ref> |date=September 2012 }} ==History== [[File:Planta BH.jpg|thumb|right|Belo Horizonte in 1895.]] The metropolis was once a small village, founded by João Leite da Silva Ortiz, a [[bandeirante]] explorer from [[São Paulo (city)|São Paulo]]. The explorer settled in the region in 1701, leaving a gold rush expedition. He then established a farm called "Curral d'el Rey", archaic [[Portuguese language|Portuguese]] for the "King's Corral", which in modern Portuguese would be spelled ''Curral do Rei''. The farm's wealth and success encouraged people from surrounding places to move into the region, and Curral del Rey became a village surrounded by farms.<ref>[http://curraldelrei.wordpress.com/2013/05/09/history-of-belo-horizonte/ History of BH] {{en icon}}</ref> Another important factor contributing to the growth of the village was the number of migrants from the [[São Francisco river]] region, who had to pass through Curral d'el Rey in order to reach southern parts of Brazil. Travelers usually visited a small wooden chapel, where they prayed for a safe trip. Due to this fact, the chapel was named Capela da Nossa Senhora da Boa Viagem, which means "Chapel of Our Lady of the Good Journey." After the construction of Belo Horizonte, the old baroque chapel was replaced by a [[neo-gothic]] church which became the city's cathedral.<ref>[http://www.traveltill.com/destination/Brazil/Belo-Horizonte/history.php About Belo Horizonte] {{en icon}}</ref> The previous capital of [[Minas Gerais]], [[Ouro Preto]] (meaning "black gold", due to dark rocks with gold inside found on the region), originally called "Vila Rica" ("wealthy village"), was a symbol of both the monarchic [[Brazilian Empire]] and the period when most of Brazilian income was due to mining, and that never pleased the members of the [[Inconfidência Mineira]], republican intellectuals who conspired against the Portuguese dominion of Brazil. In 1889, Brazil became a republic, and it was agreed that a new state capital, in tune with a modern and prosperous Minas Gerais, had to be set.<ref>[http://www.pampulhanews.com.br/2011/10/belo-horizonte-1949-brazil.html BH - History] {{en icon}}</ref> [[File:Inauguracaobh.jpg|thumb|left|Founding of the city in 1897.]] [[File:ParcialBH30.jpg|thumb|Partial view of Afonso Pena Avenue, Belo Horizonte in the 1930s]] In 1893, due to the climatic and topographic conditions, Curral Del Rey was selected by Minas Gerais governor [[Afonso Augusto Moreira Pena|Afonso Pena]] among other cities as the location for the new economical and cultural centre of the state, under the new name of "Cidade de Minas," or City of Minas.{{citation needed|date=December 2015}} Aarão Reis, an [[urbanist]] from the State of [[Pará]], was then set to design the second [[planned city]] of Brazil (the first one is [[Teresina]]), and then Cidade de Minas was inaugurated finally in 1897, with many unfinished constructions as the [[Politics of Brazil|Brazilian Government]] set a deadline for its completion. Inhabitation of the city was subsidised by the local government, through the concession of free empty lots and funding for building houses. An interesting feature of Reis' downtown street plan for Belo Horizonte was the inclusion of a symmetrical array of perpendicular and diagonal streets named after [[States of Brazil|Brazilian states]] and Brazilian [[Indigenous peoples of the Americas|indigenous]] tribes.<ref>[http://www.primidi.com/belo_horizonte/history History of Belo Horizonte] {{en icon}}</ref> [[File:Praça Liberdade.JPG|thumb|right|Liberdade Square.]] In 1906, the name was then changed to Belo Horizonte, and at that time the city was experiencing a considerable [[industry|industrial expansion]] that increased its commercial and [[tertiary sector of the economy|service]] sectors. From its very beginning, the city's original plan prohibited workers to live inside the urban area which was defined by Avenida do Contorno (a long avenue which goes around the city's central areas), reserved for the public sector functionaries (hence the name of the still trendy neighbourhood "Funcionários"), and bringing about an accelerated occupation outside the city's area well provided with [[infrastructure]] since its very beginning. Obviously, the city's original planners did not count on its population growth afterwards, which proved especially intense in the last twenty years of the 20th century. In the 1940s, a young [[Oscar Niemeyer]] designed the Pampulha Neighbourhood to great acclaim, a commission he got thanks to then-mayor, soon-to-be-president [[Juscelino Kubitschek]]. These two men are largely responsible for the wide [[Avenue (landscape)|avenue]]s, large lakes, parks and jutting skylines that characterise the city today.<ref>[http://www.discoverbraziltours.com/cgi-local/city.pl?CityID=BHZ Belo Horizonte, Brazil] {{en icon}}</ref> Belo Horizonte is fast becoming a regional centre of commerce. The Latin American Research and development centre of [[Google]], situated in Belo Horizonte, was responsible for the management and operation of the former [[social networking]] website [[Orkut]]. It continues to be a trendsetter in the arts, particularly where music, literature, architecture and the avant-garde are concerned.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.belotur.com.br/ing/a_cidade_historia.php |title=History of Belo Horizonte |language= |publisher=Belotur.com.br |date= |accessdate=2011-04-17}}</ref> ==Demographics== [[File:Formatura CMRR.JPG|thumb|left|The population of Belo Horizonte, as well as the majority of the Brazilian cities, is marked by ethnic mix. In the picture, a group of public school students in the city.]] [[File:Belo Horizonte at night.jpg|thumb|right|Belo Horizonte from [[ISS]] at night.]] [[File:Praça Savassi em Belo Horizonte.JPG|thumb|right|Downtown Belo Horizonte, Savassi region.]] According to the [[Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics|2010 IBGE Census]], there were 2,258,096 people residing in the city of Belo Horizonte.<ref>[http://www.censo2010.ibge.gov.br/dados_divulgados/index.php?uf=31 ] {{wayback|url=http://www.censo2010.ibge.gov.br/dados_divulgados/index.php?uf=31 |date=20120514145715 }}</ref> The census revealed the following numbers: 1,110,034 [[White Brazilian|White]] people (46.7%), 995,167 [[Pardo]] ([[Multiracial#Brazil|Multiracial]]) people (41.9%), 241,155 [[Afro-Brazilian|Black]] people (10.2%), 25,270 [[Asian Brazilian|Asian]] people (1.1%), 3,477 [[Indigenous peoples in Brazil|Amerindian]] people (0.1%).<ref name=autogenerated3>{{cite web|url=http://www.censo2010.ibge.gov.br/painel/?nivel=mn |title=IBGE :: Censo 2010 |publisher=Censo2010.ibge.gov.br |date= |accessdate=2012-11-16}}</ref> In 2010, the city had 428,893 opposite-sex couples and 1,090 [[same-sex couple]]s. The population of Belo Horizonte was 53.1% [[female]] and 46.9% [[male]].<ref name="autogenerated3"/> The Metropolitan Region of Belo Horizonte, called [[Greater Belo Horizonte]], is the [[List of largest cities in Brazil|3rd most populous of Brazil]], after only [[Greater São Paulo]] (with 19,672,582 people, first in Brazil and [[List of metropolitan areas by population|5th in the world]]) and [[Rio de Janeiro|Greater Rio de Janeiro]] (with 14,387,000 people). The city is the [[List of largest cities in Brazil|6th most populous of the country]]. During the 18th century, Minas Gerais received many [[Portuguese Brazilian|Portuguese]] immigrants, mainly from [[Northern Portugal]] as well as many enslaved Africans.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.asminasgerais.com.br/?item=CONTEUDO&codConteudoRaiz=88&codConteudoAtual=165 |title=Portuguese immigration |publisher=Asminasgerais.com.br |date=2002-02-19 |accessdate=2011-04-17}}</ref> Belo Horizonte has a notable [[Italian Brazilian|Italian influence]]; around 30% of the city's population have some [[Italian Brazilian|Italian origin]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.insieme.com.br/portal/conteudo.php?sid=226&cid=1467&parent=0 |title=Italian origin in BH |publisher=Insieme.com.br |date= |accessdate=2011-04-17}}</ref> The [[Italian culture]] is present in the cuisine, dance, and language.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cmbh.mg.gov.br/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=23501&Itemid=367&filter=&nj=1 |title=Italian Culture in BH |publisher=Cmbh.mg.gov.br |date=2008-04-29 |accessdate=2011-04-17}}</ref> People of [[German Brazilian|German]], [[Spanish immigration to Brazil|Spanish]], and [[Arab Brazilian|Syrian-Lebanese]] ancestries also make up sizeable groups. ===Religion=== {{Main|Religion in Brazil}} {| class="wikitable" |- ! style="background:#87CEFA; color:white" | Religion ! style="background:#87CEFA; color:white" | Percentage ! style="background:#87CEFA; color:white" | Number |- style="text-align:center;" |[[Catholic]] |59.87% |1,422,084 |- style="text-align:center;" |[[Protestant]] |25.06% |595,244 |- style="text-align:center;" |[[Irreligion in Brazil|No religion]] |8.02% |190,414 |- style="text-align:center;" |[[Spiritism|Spiritist]] |4.07% |96,639 |} ''Source: [[Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics|IBGE]] 2010.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sidra.ibge.gov.br/bda/tabela/protabl.asp?c=2094&z=cd&o=7&i=P |title=Sistema IBGE de Recuperação Automática&nbsp;– SIDRA |publisher=Sidra.ibge.gov.br |accessdate=October 11, 2012}}</ref> '' ==Economy== {{Main|Economy of Belo Horizonte}} [[File:Usiminasmonumento.JPG|thumb|left|Headquarters of [[Usiminas]] in Pedro Melo Square.]] Belo Horizonte receives large numbers of visitors, as it is in the Brazilian main economic axis, exerting influence even on other states. Both multinational and Brazilian companies, like [[Google]] and [[Oi (mobile phone network)|Oi]], maintain offices in the city. The service sector plays a very important role in the economy of Belo Horizonte, being responsible for 85% of the city's [[gross domestic product]] (GDP), with the industry making up for most of the remaining 15%. Belo Horizonte has a developed industrial sector, being traditionally a hub of the Brazilian [[siderurgy|siderurgical]] and [[metallurgy|metallurgical]] industries, as the state of Minas Gerais has always been very rich in [[minerals]], specifically iron ore. Belo Horizonte is the distribution and processing centre of a rich [[agriculture|agricultural]] and [[mining]] region and the nucleus of a burgeoning [[Industry|industrial complex]]. Production is centred on [[steel]], steel products, [[automobile]]s, and [[textile]]s. [[Gold]], [[manganese]], and [[gemstone]]s mined in the surrounding region are processed in the city.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://darkwing.uoregon.edu/~sergiok/brasil/belo.html |title=BH city |publisher=Darkwing.uoregon.edu |date= |accessdate=2011-04-17| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20110513235809/http://darkwing.uoregon.edu/~sergiok/brasil/belo.html| archivedate= 13 May 2011 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}</ref> The main industrial district of the city was set during the 1940s in [[Contagem]], a part of greater Belo Horizonte. Multinational companies like [[FIAT]] (which opened its plant in Betim in 1974), [[Arcelor]], and [[Toshiba]] have subsidiaries in the region, along with other [[textile]], [[Cosmetics|cosmetic]], [[food]], [[chemicals]], [[pharmaceuticals]], [[furnishing]] and [[refractory]] companies. Among the companies headquartered in the city we can list steel producer Açominas (held by [[Gerdau]], one of the largest multinationals originated in Brazil); [[Usiminas]]; Belgo-Mineira (held by [[Arcelor]]); [[Acesita]] (partially held by Arcelor); mobile communication [[Vivo S.A.|Vivo]]; and [[Telecom Italia Mobile]], [[Dasein executive search]], [[executive coaching]] company, as well as the [[NYSE]]-listed electrical company CEMIG. Leading steel product makers Sumitomo Metals of [[Japan]] and Vallourec of [[France]] have also plans to construct an integrated steel works on the outskirts of the city. [[File:Cemig.JPG|thumb|right|Headquarters of [[Cemig]] on Barbacena Avenue.]] There are also a large number of small enterprises in the technological sector with regional to nationwide success, particularly in the fields of [[computing]] and biotechonology. Because of both governmental and private funding in the diversification of its economy, the city has become an international reference in [[Information Technology]] and [[Biotechnology]], and is also cited because of the advanced corporate and university research in [[Biodiesel]] fuel. The number of jobs in the Information sector has been growing at annual rates above 50%. The Belo Horizonte Metropolitan Area, composed of 33 cities under the capital's direct influence, is home to 16% of the country's biotechnology companies, with annual sales of over R$550 million.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.belotur.com.br/ing/a_cidade_economia.php |title=Economy of the city of Belo Horizonte |language= |publisher=Belotur.com.br |date= |accessdate=2011-04-17}}</ref> Projects in these fields are likely to expand because of integration between universities, the oil company [[Petrobras]] and the [[Brazilian Government]]. One of the largest events that ever took place in the city, the [[Inter-American Development Bank]] meeting, occurred in 2005 and attracted people from everywhere in the world. For a long time it was marked by the predominance of its [[industrial sector]], but from the 1990s there has been a constant expansion of the [[service sector]] economy, particularly in [[computer science]], [[biotechnology]], [[business tourism]], [[fashion]] and the making of [[jewelry]]. The city is considered to be a strategic leader in the [[Economy of Brazil|Brazilian economy]]. The move towards [[business tourism]] transformed the capital into a national hub for this segment of the [[tourist industry]]. * In 2008, the city's GDP was [[Brazilian real|R$]]42 billion (or about of [[United States dollar|US$]]26,2 billion).<ref>{{cite book|url=http://www.ibge.gov.br/home/presidencia/noticias/noticia_impressao.php?id_noticia=1288|title=GDP|publisher=[[Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics|IBGE]]|location=Belo Horizonte, Brazil|format=PDF|isbn=85-240-3919-1|accessdate=2009-07-21|year=2006|language=Portuguese}}</ref> * In 2008, the [[Greater Belo Horizonte]]'s GDP was [[Brazilian real|R$]]98,5 billion (or about of [[United States dollar|US$]]61 billion).<ref name="IBGE_PIB">{{cite web |url=http://www.ibge.gov.br/home/estatistica/economia/pibmunicipios/2005/tab01.pdf |title=Produto Interno Bruto dos Municípios 2002-2005|publisher=Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE)|accessdate=30 May 2009}}</ref> * In 2008, the city's [[per capita income]] was [[Brazilian real|R$]]17,313 (or [[United States dollar|US$]]10,820).<ref>{{cite book|url=http://www.ibge.gov.br/home/presidencia/noticias/noticia_impressao.php?id_noticia=1288|title=per capita income|publisher=[[Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics|IBGE]]|location=Belo Horizonte, Brazil|format=PDF|isbn=85-240-3919-1|accessdate=2010-01-10 |year=2007 |language=Portuguese}}</ref> In 2007, it was R$15,830<ref name="pnbonline.com.br">{{cite book|url=http://www.pnbonline.com.br/display.asp?id=36736 |title=per capita income |accessdate=2009-07-21 |year=2006 |language=Portuguese |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140313165145/http://www.pnbonline.com.br/display.asp?id=36736 |archivedate=March 13, 2014 }}</ref> (about of US$9,893).<ref name="pnbonline.com.br"/> ==Education== {{Main|Education in Brazil}} [[File:Escola dom pedro segundo bh.jpg|thumb|left|Dom Pedro II State School.]] [[File:Puc-minas.gif|thumb|right|[[Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Minas Gerais|Pontifical Catholic University of Minas Gerais]].]] [[File:Reitoria.JPG|thumb|right|[[Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais|Federal University of Minas Gerais]].]] [[Portuguese language|Portuguese]] is the official national language, and thus the primary language taught in schools. [[English language|English]] and [[Spanish language|Spanish]] are both taught as second languages. ===Educational institutions=== Several [[higher education]] institutions are located in Belo Horizonte, including: * [[Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais]] (UFMG); * [[Centro Federal de Educação Tecnológica de Minas Gerais]] (CEFET-MG); * [[Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Minas Gerais]] (PUC-MG); * [[Universidade do Estado de Minas Gerais]] (UEMG) (State University of Minas Gerais); * [http://www.unibh.br/ Centro Universitário de Belo Horizonte] (UNI-BH); * [http://www.faculdadepitagoras.com.br/ Faculdade Pitágoras de Belo Horizonte] (FP-BH); * [http://www.kennedy.br/ Faculdades Kennedy] (FKBH); * [http://www.una.br/ Centro Universitário] (UNA); * [[FUMEC University|Universidade FUMEC]] (FUMEC); * [http://www.unifenas.br/ Universidade José do Rosário Vellano] (UNIFENAS); * [http://www.newtonpaiva.br/ Centro Universitário Newton Paiva]; * [http://www.domhelder.edu.br/ Escola Superior Dom Helder Câmara - Especializada em Direito]; * [http://www.faculdadejesuita.edu.br/ Faculdade Jesuíta de Filosofia e Teologia] (FAJE) * [[Skema Business School]] (SK). {{Clear}} ==Culture== {{refimprove section|date=December 2014}} [[File:Torrealtavilla bh.JPG|thumb|right|Belo Horizonte Tower with a restaurant on the top.]] ===Food and drink=== [[File:Pao de queijo com cafe.jpg|thumb|left|[[Pão de queijo]] with coffee, traditional snack of [[Minas Gerais]]. The regional Minas Gerais' food and the now internationally known drink of [[cachaça]] are very popular and highly rated in the capital.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.world66.com/southamerica/brazil/belohorizonte/nightlife_and_ente |title=Regional food and drink BH |publisher=World66.com |date=2006-09-25 |accessdate=2011-04-17| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20110514112839/http://www.world66.com/southamerica/brazil/belohorizonte/nightlife_and_ente| archivedate= 14 May 2011 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}</ref>]] Belo Horizonte is internationally known as the "capital of neighborhood bars."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.belotur.com.br/ing/gastronomia.php |title=Cuisine in Belo Horizonte |language=|publisher=Belotur.com.br |date= |accessdate=2011-04-17}}</ref> Every year, the city hosts the Comida di Buteco festival ("Pub Foods", in an approximate translation), in which a panel selects 41 [[bar (establishment)|bar]]s to be visited, and then elects the one with the best appetizers using the theme ingredient of each year. Minas Gerais' cuisine is famous for its traditional dishes, like [[pão de queijo]], feijão tropeiro, tutu de feijão, pork ribs, chicken-and-okra (served with a rich, brown gravy and rice) and other usually heavy, comfort-like food. The city also abounds with pizza places, barbecue houses, fine restaurants of various nationalities and other options. ===Music=== [[File:Sepultura @ Maquinária Festival 04.jpg|thumb|right|[[Andreas Kisser]], guitarist of [[Sepultura]]. The scene of [[Heavy metal music|Heavy Metal]] is strong in Belo Horizonte.]] [[Clube da Esquina]] is one of the most important musical movements in the musical history of Brazil. It originated in the mid-1960s, and since then its members have been hugely influential in Brazilian and even international music, some like Milton Nascimento and Toninho Horta achieving worldwide acclaim. Other people involved in the movement include musicians, songwriters, composers, conductors and lyricists, such as Tavinho Moura, [[Wagner Tiso]], [[Andersen Viana]], [[Milton Nascimento]], [[Lô Borges]], [[Beto Guedes]], Flávio Venturini, [[Toninho Horta]], [[Márcio Borges]] and [[Fernando Brant]], among others. The band [[Uakti (band)|Uakti]] - known for performing with self-built musical instruments - originated in Belo Horizonte under the influence of Walter Smetak and the Composition School from Bahia. Also, several nationally famous [[rock music|rock]] groups have been founded in Belo Horizonte, including [[Jota Quest]], [[Pato Fu]], [[Skank (band)|Skank]], [[14 Bis (Band)|14 Bis]] and Tianastácia. In later years, Belo Horizonte has been more frequently included in Brazilian tours of foreign mainstream and independent acts. Belo Horizonte is also known as the Brazilian Capital of Metal, hence the huge number of heavy metal bands (and the likes) founded there, especially in the 1980s. Most importantly, Overdose, the first metal band from BH and one of the first to gain prominence in Brazil; [[Sepultura]], the world's best known Brazilian metal band; and [[Sarcófago]], one of the founders of modern [[black metal]]. The [[contemporary Christian music]] band [[Diante do Trono]], is also of Belo Horizonte. A short instrumental song by American band [[Earth, Wind & Fire]] is named after the city on their album [[Now, Then & Forever]]. ===Museums=== [[File:Nu Agusto.jpg|thumb|right|Pampulha Art Museum.]] Belo Horizonte features a number of museums including the Mineiro Museum, the Abílio Barreto Historic Museum, Arts and Workmanship Museum, a Natural History Museum and the UFMG [[Botanic Garden]]s, a telephone museum, the Pampulha Art Museum, the Professor Taylor Gramke Mineralogy Museum, and the UFMG Conservatory. The puppet theatre group Giramundo was established here in 1970, and continues to maintain a puppetry museum hosting a collection of their creations. There is also The Circuito Cultural Praça da Liberdade, located in the central region of Belo Horizonte is currently the largest cultural circuit in Brazil. In all, there are eleven functioning museums and cultural spaces: Arquivo Público Mineiro (Minas Gerais Public Archive), Biblioteca Pública Estadual Luiz de Bessa (Luiz de Bessa State Public Library), Cefar Liberdade, Centro de Arte Popular Cemig (Cemig Center of Popular Art), Centro Cultural Banco do Brasil (Culture Center Bank of Brazil), Espaço do Conhecimento UFMG (UFMG Knowledge Space), Horizonte Sebrae - Casa da Economia Criativa (Sebrae Horizon - The House of Creative Economy), Memorial Minas Gerais Vale (Minas Gerais Memorial), Museu das Minas e do Metal (Mines and Metal Museum), Museu Mineiro (Minas Gerais Museum) and Palácio da Liberdade (Liberty Palace). Besides these, another three spaces are already in the process of being implemented: the Casa Fiat de Cultura (Fiat Culture House), CENA and Oi Futuro. The proposal, according to the Circuit manager, Cristiana Kumaira, is to strengthen the circuit in the world cultural context. “We are already on this path and are being careful to ensure that the activities, services and assistance fulfill the needs and expectations of both the local population and the tourists who come to Belo Horizonte from different parts of the world. The Circuit is establishing itself as one more source of pride for the people of Minas Gerais”, she stresses. Inaugurated in 2010, the Circuito Cultural Praça da Liberdade was created with the goal of exploring cultural diversity – with interactive options open to the public – in an area of great symbolic, historical and architectural value for Belo Horizonte. The opportunity came with the transference of the Minas Gerais Government headquarters to the Cidade Administrativa (Administrative City), in Serra Verde. After they had been adapted, the old department buildings opened their doors and began to house museums and cultural spaces. The Circuito Cultural Praça da Liberdade is co-managed by the Instituto Sérgio Magnani (Institute) since June, 2012, through a partnership signed with the Minas Gerais Government, and the museums/spaces are mostly run by private companies, which carry out investments in heritage recovery and building maintenance. According to Kumaira, this public-private partnership model allows large companies to participate and effectively contribute to the cultural advance of the city. “Beyond their fields of activities, the partners invest in the implantation and maintenance of museums, learning spaces, exhibitions rooms and shows, as well as memory centers that consolidate the history of Minas Gerais, presenting it either for free or at affordable prices”, she adds. <ref>http://en.circuitoculturalliberdade.com.br/plus/modulos/conteudo/index.php?tac=historia&layout=conheca</ref> ==== Natural History Museum and the UFMG Botanic Gardens ==== The Natural History Museum and Botanical Garden holds an important treasure of folk art – the Nativity of Pipiripau. Created during the 20th century, the craftsman Raimundo Machado, synchronizes 586 figures, distributed in 45 scenes, which tell the story of life and death of Jesus, mixed with its variety of arts and crafts.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mhnjb.ufmg.br/index.html |title=UFMG Museum of Natural History and Botanic Garden |location=Belo Horizonte, Brazil|accessdate=September 30, 2011}}</ref> With 600,000 sq. m. of green area, the [[Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais|UFMG]] Museum of Natural History and Botanic Garden (MHN-JB) is a privileged ecological space that enables visitors to experience nature in a rich, multidisciplinary way. For 30 years, the mission of the MHN-JB has been to do research, to educate, and to meet the community’s demand for service. It covers the areas of [[Anthropology]], [[Archeology]], Environmental Education, [[Natural History]], [[Mineralogy]], and [[Paleontology]]. It has an Ecological Amphitheater, a Free Art Atelier, a [[Greenhouse]], and an Interactive Room. One of its traditional exhibitions is the Pipiripau Nativity Crèche.It has also created many attractions for the public such as: ==== Palácio das Artes ==== Palácio das Artes, inaugurated in 1970, is the largest and most varied cultural complex in Minas Gerais. It comprises three theaters, three art galleries, a movie theater, a bookstore a coffee shop and photography exhibition space. It offers high quality programs for the several expressions in arts. The building was designed by Oscar Niemeyer and it also houses the Minas Gerais Handcraft Center. ==== Pampulha Art Museum (MAP) ==== The Pampulha Art Museum is located at the Pampulha Lake in Belo Horizonte in a building that originally housed the Pampulha Casino. The building was designed by Oscar Niemeyer, commissioned by the then mayor and future president of Brazil Juscelino Kubitschek in the early 1940s, with external grounds by landscaper [[Burle Marx|Roberto Burle Marx]]. The building was the first project of Oscar Niemeyer, opened as a casino, and closed in 1946. In 1957, it was re-opened as the Art Museum. His design was influenced by the principles of Le Corbusier. The gardens of [[Burle Marx]] are an tribute to the tropical green. There is three sculptures by Ceschiatti, Zamoiski and José Pedrosa. In 1996, it won new multimedia rooms, library, café bar, souvenir shop and technical infrastructure. The MAP has an impressive collection of 1.600 works.<ref name="BH_GUIDE">{{cite web |url=http://www.youblisher.com/files/publications/30/174017/pdf.pdf |title=Belo Horizonte: um guia completo da capital de todos os mineiros |location=Belo Horizonte, Brazil|format=PDF |date= |accessdate=September 30, 2011}}</ref> The Museum is an integral part of the "Pampulha Architectural Complex" a watershed in the history of modern architecture in Brazil and internationally. [[File:Praça da Estação FIT-BH 2010.jpg|thumb|right|Estação Square during the International Festival of Theatre, Stage and Street.]] ===Theatre=== Every two years, FIT BH, The International Theater Festival of Belo Horizonte, takes place in the city. This attracts artists from all over Brazil and worldwide. With the merger of two projects that would happen separately in 1994, one stage based, organized by the Francisco Nunes [[Theater]], and the other street based, idealized by Grupo Galpão, came FIT-BH Palco & Rua. Produced every two years, under responsibility from the Belo Horizonte [[City Hall]], through the Municipal Culture Office and the Association Movimento Teatro de Grupo of Minas Gerais, in the program there are street and stage shows, and also seminars, workshops, courses, talks, etc. ===Dance=== [[File:Festa Junina (603631885).jpg|thumb|left|Traditional dress used in the [[Festa Junina]] (June Festival).]] [[File:Musik und Tanz in Belo Horizonte (14505258588).jpg|thumb|right|[[Maracatu]] dance group of students.]] Several notable artistic groups originated in Belo Horizonte. [[Grupo Corpo]], which is perhaps the most famous [[contemporary dance]] group in the country, was formed in the city in 1975. In March and April is the performance program from FID promoting contemporary dance in Belo Horizonte. The program presents groups from Belo Horizonte. For this project the priority invitations go to the shows created by groups and [[choreographer]]s living in the city. The purpose is to take shows and other activities such as workshops, talks and video screenings to the less privileged regions of the city regarding access to cultural assets. Belo Horizonte is also host to the Centro Mineiro de Danças Clássicas school. ===Architecture=== Under the leadership of the then mayor of city, Juscelino Kubitschek, arquitects and artists such as Oscar Niemeyer, landscaper Burle Marx, and painter Candido Portinari, started here a type of modern architecture and art that has been greatly developed later with the construction of Brazil's new capital, Brasilia, also led by the now president Juscelino (aka JK)). It os at the Pampulha complex that one can see the routes of this new arquitecture movement. The modern and protomodern arquitecture can also be seen all over Belo Horizonte, either in emblematic 1950's buildings such as [http://www.belohorizonte.mg.gov.br/bh-primeira-vista/arquitetura/edificio-acaiaca-o-arranha-ceu-de-belo-horizonte Edificio Acaiaca], Conjunto JK, [http://www.amazonaspalace.com.br Hotel Amazonas] <ref>http://www.em.com.br/app/noticia/gerais/2015/07/15/interna_gerais,668573/hotel-no-centro-de-belo-horizonte-abriga-paineis-de-artista-frances.shtml</ref> and former Hotel Excelsior,<ref>http://www.em.com.br/app/noticia/economia/2013/09/18/internas_economia,450154/hotel-excelsior-vira-residencial-no-centro-de-bh.shtml</ref> all reflecting the modernity culture of the first planned capital of Brazil. ==Transport== [[File:Aeroporto de Confins.jpg|thumb|right|[[Tancredo Neves International Airport|Tancredo Neves/Confins International Airport]].]] [[File:Onibus BRT Belo Horizonte.jpg|thumb|right|[[Bus rapid transit|BRT]] on Cristiano Machado Avenue.]] [[File:Brtparana.jpg|thumb|right|[[Bus rapid transit|BRT]] on Paraná Avenue.]] [[File:Belo Horizonte Metro Interior.JPG|thumb|right|Inside of Metro.]] ===Airports=== Belo Horizonte is served by three airports: *[[Tancredo Neves International Airport|Tancredo Neves/Confins International Airport]], dedicated to domestic and international traffic. It is located in the municipalities of [[Lagoa Santa, Minas Gerais|Lagoa Santa]] and [[Confins]], {{convert|38|km|mi}} from Belo Horizonte, and was opened in January 1984. Plans for gradual expansion to meet growing demand had been already drawn up from the airport's inception. The airport has one of the lowest rates of shutdown for bad weather in the country. It ran at limited capacity until 2005, when a large proportion of Pampulha Airport air traffic was transferred to Confins. There are direct international flights to/from [[Miami]], [[Orlando]], [[Lisbon]], [[Buenos Aires]] and [[Panama City]]. *[[Belo Horizonte/Pampulha - Carlos Drummond de Andrade Airport|Pampulha - Carlos Drummond de Andrade Airport]], dedicated to domestic traffic; *[[Carlos Prates Airport]], dedicated to general aviation. ===Highways=== The city is connected to the rest of Minas Gerais state and the country by a number of roadways. [[Minas Gerais]] has the country's largest federal highway network.<ref>{{cite book|url=http://noticias.terra.com.br/brasil/interna/0,,OI1422832-EI306,00.html|title=Tempo bom e trânsito lento marcam volta de feriado|publisher=Terra|location=Belo Horizonte, Brazil|format=PDF|isbn=85-240-3919-1|accessdate=2007-02-22|year=2007|language=Portuguese| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20070307014129/http://noticias.terra.com.br/brasil/interna/0,,OI1422832-EI306,00.html| archivedate= 7 March 2007 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}</ref> * [[Brazilian Highway System#BR-040|BR-040]] connects Belo Horizonte to [[Rio de Janeiro]] (going south) and [[Brasília]] (going northwest). It also links other cities in the state, such as [[Juiz de Fora]], [[Conselheiro Lafaiete]], [[Barbacena]], [[Sete Lagoas]], and [[Paracatu, Minas Gerais|Paracatu]]. * [[BR-262]] begins in [[Mato Grosso do Sul]] and ends in [[Espírito Santo]], crossing [[Minas Gerais]] from west to east. It links Belo Horizonte to [[Pará de Minas]], [[Araxá]], [[Manhuaçu]], [[Uberaba]], [[Governador Valadares]], and [[Vitória, Brazil|Vitória]], the capital of [[Espírito Santo]] state. * [[Rodovia Fernão Dias|BR-381]] is an important federal highway. It connects Belo Horizonte to [[São Paulo]]. * MG-010 is a state highway that connects the capital to the [[Tancredo Neves International Airport]], itself located in the municipalities of Confins and Lagoa Santa, which are part of the metropolitan area of Belo Horizonte. Starting in 2005, several flights were transferred from the [[Pampulha Regional Airport]] to the international airport. To improve access to the international airport, MG-010 is being expanded (effectively duplicating its lanes).<ref>{{cite book|url=http://www.linhaverde.mg.gov.br/|title=Linha Verde|publisher=Governo do Estado de Minas Gerais|location=Belo Horizonte, Brazil|format=PDF|isbn=85-240-3919-1|accessdate=2007-01-30|year=2007|language=Portuguese| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20070125231316/http://www.linhaverde.mg.gov.br/| archivedate= 25 January 2007 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}</ref> The city is also served by other minor roads such as state highways MG-020, MG-050, MG-030, and MG-433. There is also an East-West Express Way, which goes from the city to the nearby industrial centres of [[Contagem]] and [[Betim]] (together having a population of ca. 900,000), and Anel Rodoviário, a kind of "beltway" - indeed it is not circumferential, but connects many highways, such as the federal (BR-ones) so it is not necessary for a large number of cars and trucks to pass through the city centre. Many of these [[road]]s are in poor condition, but in the last years many revitalization and rebuilding projects have been started. ===Bus system=== The bus system has a large number of bus lines going through all parts in the city, and is administrated by ''BHTRANS''. Among the upcoming projects are the expansion of the integration between bus lines and the [[rapid transit|metro]], with integrated stations, many already in use. And the construction of bus corridors, with lanes and bus stops exclusively for the bus lines. Keeping buses from traffic congestions, making the trips more viable for commuters. ===Railways=== [[Belo Horizonte Metro]] or MetroBH started operating at the end of the 1970s. There is one line, with 19 stations, from Vilarinho to Eldorado Station, in [[Contagem]], transporting over 160,000 people daily. The current projects of expansion include Line 2, linking the existing Calafate Station to the region of Barreiro. And Line 3, from the city's main bus terminal to [[Savassi]] economical district. Line 2 is planned to be overground (similar to the current line) and Line 3 is planned to be underground, passing through the city's financial centre, Praça Sete and Afonso Pena Avenue. Also, Line 1 is planned to be extended to Novo Eldorado Station.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.metrominas.mg.gov.br/ |title=Metrominas - Trem Metropolitano de Belo Horizonte |publisher=Metrominas.mg.gov.br |date= |accessdate=2012-11-16}}</ref> ==Landmarks== [[File:Oscar Niemeyer's Church of St Francis in Belo Horizonte2.jpg|thumb|left|São Francisco de Assis Church in Pampulha Park.]] [[File:Parque Municipal em Belo Horizonte.JPG|thumb|right|Municipal Park of Belo Horizonte.]] Belo Horizonte has several significant cultural landmarks, many of them situated in the [[Pampulha]] district, where there are notable examples of Brazilian [[contemporary architecture]].<ref>[http://www.dottransfers.com/brazil/belo-horizonte/ Info BH] {{en icon}}</ref> ===Pampulha Park=== The park area includes one of the largest soccer stadiums in the world, the [[Mineirão]] stadium, and the [[Church of Saint Francis of Assisi|São Francisco de Assis Church]], widely known as Igreja da Pampulha, designed by Brazilian [[Modern movement|Modernist]] architect [[Oscar Niemeyer]]. In Pampulha there is also the [[Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais]] campus, whose buildings themselves are important contributions to the city's architecture. Other notable buildings include the Mesbla and Niemeyer buildings, in addition to the headquarters of corporations such as [[Usiminas]], Seculus, and Telemig Celular.<ref>[http://www.brazil-carnival.info/683/coisas-de-minas-belo-horizonte-brazil-travel-guide/ Things of BH] {{en icon}}</ref> ===Downtown=== In the downtown area, landmarks include the church of São José, the Praça da Estação (Station Square), which is an old train station that now is also the Museum of Arts and Workmanship, the Municipal Park, the famous Sete de Setembro Square, where an obelisk built in 1922 marks the one hundred years of [[Brazilian independence]] from [[Portugal]].<ref>[http://www.reference.com/browse/belo+horizonte Downtown BH] {{en icon}}</ref> Near Central the area, in the Lourdes neighborhood, the Lourdes Basilica, is an example of [[Gothic Revival architecture|Gothic Revival style]]. The Nossa Senhora de Fátima Church, in Santo Agostinho neighborhood, is situated in [[Carlos Chagas]] Square. Both churches are referred to as the Assembléia Church and the Assembléia Square because of their proximity to the state's [[legislative assembly]]. Next to the downtown region is the famous Savassi district, known for fine restaurants and as a centre of cultural events as well as the best of the city's nightlife. Many landmarks are located there, such as the Praça da Liberdade (Liberty Square), and its surrounding buildings, including the former Executive Offices of the governor called the Palácio da Liberdade (Liberty Palace), the first building to be finished during the city's planned development in the late 1890s. The government offices moved to the "Cidade Administrativa" in 2010. This complex is made by a few massive buildings just outside the city. Nowadays, the "palaces" are being turned into museums. Still on Savassi, the meeting point of many social groups, especially the youth, is "Praça da Savassi" (Savassi Square), which is not exactly a square, and more a crossing between two major avenues ([[Getúlio Vargas]] and Cristóvão Colombo), and gathers some of the busiest bars and pubs (called locally "botecos" or "botequins") in town. Another important landmark is Praça do Papa (Pope's Square), located at a high point south of the downtown area, with its great view of the entire city. It is named for the July 1st, 1980, visit by [[John Paul II]], who held a youth mass there. The nearby Parque das Mangabeiras (Mangabeiras Park) features extensive wildlife, and-owing to its considerable size-has its own bus service, which operates solely within the confines of the park. On Sundays, Afonso Pena Avenue hosts Latin America's biggest open-air market. This is the Market of Arts and Handicrafts, most commonly known as Feira Hippie (hippie fair). Every Sunday morning 70,000 visitors find food, drinks, clothes, furniture, earrings, shoes and almost anything else.<ref>{{cite web|author=FeiraHippiebh.com |url=http://www.feirahippiebh.com |title=Feira Hippie WebSite |publisher=Feirahippiebh.com |date= |accessdate=2011-04-17}}</ref> {{wide image|Superpanoramica BH.png|1000px|View of Belo Horizonte.}} ===Zoological Park and Botanical Garden=== A centre for conservation and preservation of animals and plants it has also developed environmental education projects. The Zoo, which encompasses a total area of 1.4 million square meters, is located at the Foundation's headquarters and is regarded as one of the most complete in Latin America. It has a collection of close to 900 animals representing 200 species, from Brazil and other parts of the world, as well as the first public butterfly sanctuary in [[South America]]. Pampulha Ecological Park is administered by the Zoo-Botanical Foundation of Belo Horizonte and was inaugurated in May 21 of 2004. It's {{convert|30|acres|0|abbr=on}} of green area that offers to the population and the [[tourist]]s a permanent programming of [[Natural environment|environmental]], cultural and patrimonial education. ==Human development== The human development of Belo Horizonte varies greatly by locality, reflecting the city's spatial social inequality and vast socioeconomic inequalities. There are neighborhoods that had very high [[human development index]]es in 2000 (equal to or greater than the indexes of some [[Scandinavia]]n countries), but those in the lower range (in line with, for example, [[Magreb|North Africa]]).<ref>{{cite book|url=http://www.pnud.org.br/pobreza_desigualdade/reportagens/index.php?id01=2480&lay=pde |title=HDI|publisher=PNUD|location=Belo Horizonte, Brazil|format=PDF|isbn=85-240-3919-1|accessdate=2008-01-09 |year=2000|language=Portuguese}}</ref> ===Highest-scoring neighborhoods and localities=== Carmo/Sion (0.973): greater than [[Iceland]] - 0.968; Cruzeiro/Anchieta/Funcionários (0.970): greater than [[Iceland]] - 0.968; Grajau/Gutierrez (0.965): greater than [[Australia]] - 0.962; Belvedere/Mangabeiras/Comiteco (0.964): greater than [[Australia]] - 0.962; Serra/São Lucas (0.953): equal to [[Japan]], [[Netherlands]] - 0.953. ===Food as a right=== In 1993, under mayor Patrus Ananias de Souza, the city started a series of innovations based on its citizens having the "[[right to food]]". These include, for example, creating [[farmers' market]]s in the town to enable direct sales and regularly surveying market prices and posting the results across the city.<ref>{{cite book|url=http://www.alternatives.ca/auteur/cecilia-rocha?lang=en|title=Belo Horizonte: The Beautiful Horizon of Community Food Sovereignty|publisher=''Alternatives International Journal''|location=Quebec, Canada|accessdate=2009-11-10|year=2008|author=Wayne Roberts and Cecilia Rocha}}</ref> The city's process of [[participatory budgeting]] was linked with these innovations, as a result of which the [[infant mortality rate]] was reduced by 50% in a decade.<ref>FRANCIS MOORE LAPPÉ, ''CounterPunch'', 18 March 2009, [http://www.counterpunch.org/lappe03182009.html The City That Ended Hunger]</ref><ref name="thesis">M. Jahi Chappell, PhD Thesis, 2009, [http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/handle/2027.42/62417 ''From Food Security to Farm to Formicidae: Belo Horizonte, Brazil's Secretaria Municipal de Abastecimento and Biodiversity in the Fragmented Atlantic Rainforest'']</ref> There is some evidence that these programs have helped support a higher quality of life for the local farmers partnering with the city and that this may be having positive effects on biodiversity in the Atlantic rainforest around the city.<ref name="thesis"/><ref>{{cite book|url=http://www.ryerson.ca/foodsecurity/publications/papers/UrbanFoodPolicy.pdf |format=PDF |title=Urban Food Policies and Rural Sustainability: How the Municipal Government of Belo Horizonte, Brazil is Promoting Rural Sustainability |publisher=Centre for Studies in Food Security, and Department of Nutrition, Ryerson University |location=Toronto, Canada |accessdate=2009-11-10 |year=2003 |author=Cecilia Rocha and Adriana Aranha |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121215050324/http://www.ryerson.ca/foodsecurity/publications/papers/UrbanFoodPolicy.pdf |archivedate=December 15, 2012 }}</ref> The city's development of these policies garnered the first "Future Policy Award" in 2009, awarded by the [[World Future Council]], a group of 50 activists (including [[Frances Moore Lappé]], [[Vandana Shiva]], [[Wes Jackson]], and [[Youssou N'Dour]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.worldfuturecouncil.org/the_councillors.html |title=Councillors |publisher=The World Future Council |date= |accessdate=2011-04-17| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20110523063243/http://www.worldfuturecouncil.org/the_councillors.html| archivedate= 23 May 2011 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}</ref>) concerned with the development and recognition of policies to promote a just and sustainable future. ===Vila Viva=== The city has undertaken an internationally heralded project called Vila Viva ("Living Village" in Portuguese) that promises to "urbanize" the poorest areas (''[[favela]]s''), relocating families from areas with high risk of floods and landslides but keeping them in the same neighborhood, paving main avenues to allow public transportation, police and postal service to have access. All the work is done with 80% of locals, reducing unemployment and increasing family income.<ref name="mayor">{{cite web|url=http://www.worldmayor.com/manifestos05/belohorizonte_05.html |title=Belo Horizonte Mayor Fernando Damata Pimentel: A program of financial efficiency and social boldness |publisher=Worldmayor.com |date= |accessdate=2011-04-17| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20110514220216/http://www.worldmayor.com/manifestos05/belohorizonte_05.html| archivedate= 14 May 2011 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.favelaeissoai.com.br/noticias.php?cod=59 |language=Portuguese|title= Favela é isso ai |publisher=Favelaeissoai.com.br |date=2010-01-18 |accessdate=2011-04-17}}</ref> Former mayor [[Fernando da Mata Pimentel]] was nominated for [[World Mayor]] in 2005 on the strength of these and other programs.<ref name="mayor"/> ==Sports== {{See also|Sport in Brazil}} ===Football=== {{See also|Football in Brazil|Campeonato Brasileiro Série A|Campeonato Mineiro}} [[File:Mineirão Aérea.jpg|thumb|[[Mineirão]]]] As in the rest of Brazil, [[Association football|football]] is the most popular sport. The city's major teams are [[Clube Atlético Mineiro|Atlético Mineiro]], [[Cruzeiro Esporte Clube|Cruzeiro]] and [[América Futebol Clube (MG)|América Mineiro]]. The city also has one of the biggest football stadiums in the world, the [[Mineirão]], which opened in 1965. The older [[Estádio Independência|Independência Stadium]] was the site of a legendary World Cup victory in 1950, when the [[England v United States (1950)|United States beat England]] in a 1–0 win.<ref>{{cite book|url=http://national.soccerhall.org/Monthly%20Column/MC.May.2005.htm|title=Soccerhall|publisher=Soccerhall|location=Belo Horizonte, Brazil|format=PDF|isbn=85-240-3919-1|accessdate=2007-07-18|year=2005|language=Portuguese}}</ref> Mineirão, officially called Estádio Governador Magalhães Pinto, was built to provide the city of Belo Horizonte with a larger alternative for Independência Stadium, then the prime venue of the city. The stadium was meant to become the most modern stadium of Brazil and the new home of Atlético Mineiro and Cruzeiro. Construction took almost five years, and on the 5th of September 1965 Mineirão officially opened. Mineirão hardly changed in the following decades, and in the 1990s still had its original capacity. When Brazil [[2014 FIFA World Cup bids|won their bid]] to host the 2014 FIFA World Cup, it was clear that Mineirão needed to undergo a large redevelopment. [[File:Arena Independência - Atlético x Fluminense.jpg|thumb|left|[[Estádio Independência|Independência Stadium]].]] The project included the complete reconstruction of the bottom tier, an extension of the roof, and further refurbishments to upgrade the stadium to [[FIFA]] standards. Building works took a total of three years, and were completed in December 2012. The first match at the reopened Mineirão was played on the 3rd of February 2013 with a state championship match between Cruzeiro and Atlético. While Cruzeiro agreed on a lease to play the next 25 years at Mineirão, Atlético have not yet come to an agreement and will keep playing at Independência Stadium until doing so. Mineirão hosted a total of six matches during the 2014 FIFA World Cup, including one round of 16 match and the historical semifinal referred to as Mineirazo in which [[Brazil v Germany (2014 FIFA World Cup)|Brazil lost 1-7 against Germany]]. The stadium also was one of the playing venues of the [[2013 FIFA Confederations Cup]].<ref>[http://www.stadiumguide.com/mineirao/ Mineirão Stadium] {{en icon}}</ref> {| class="wikitable" |+ Football/soccer teams |- ! Club ! League ! Venue ! Established (team) |- ! [[Clube Atlético Mineiro|Atlético Mineiro]] |[[Campeonato Brasileiro Série A|Série A]] |[[Estádio Independência|Independência Stadium]] 23,018 (32,721 record) |1908 |- ! [[Cruzeiro Esporte Clube|Cruzeiro]] |Série A |[[Mineirão]] 58,170 (132,834 record) |1921 |- ! [[América Futebol Clube (MG)|América]] |Série A |Estádio Independência|Independência Stadium 23,018 (32,721 record) |1912 |} In addition to football, Belo Horizonte has one of the largest attendances at [[volleyball]] matches in the entire country. They are played either at [[Mineirinho]], home of [[Brazil men's national volleyball team|Brazil's national volleyball team]], or at [[Minas Tênis Clube]]. ===Tennis=== Belo Horizonte is home to [[2015 French Open – Men's Doubles|2015 French Open men's doubles]] champion and World no. 1 doubles player [[Marcelo Melo]] as well as [[2016 Australian Open – Men's Doubles|2016 Australian Open men's doubles]] and [[2016 Australian Open – Mixed Doubles|mixed doubles]] champion and former World no. 3 [[Bruno Soares]]. ==International relations== ===Twin towns – Sister cities=== Belo Horizonte's [[Town twinning|sister cities]] are:<ref name=sisterbh>{{cite web |url=http://portalpbh.pbh.gov.br/pbh/ecp/comunidade.do?evento=portlet&pIdPlc=ecpTaxonomiaMenuPortal&app=relacoesinternacionais&tax=11465&lang=pt_BR&pg=5781&taxp=0& |title= Relações Internacionais - Cidades Irmãs|accessdate=29 December 2008 |author=Prefeitura Municipal de Belo Horizonte}}</ref><ref name="sister">{{cite web |url=http://www.pbh.gov.br/bh-internacional/bhz-acordos_irmas.htm |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071223020811/http://www.pbh.gov.br/bh-internacional/bhz-acordos_irmas.htm |archivedate=2007-12-23 |title=Mayor's International Council Sister Cities Program |publisher=Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais|accessdate = 2008-08-18}}</ref> {{Colbegin|2}} *{{flagicon|ANG}} '''[[Luanda|San Paolo de Loanda]]''', [[Angola]] (1968) *{{flagicon|LIB}} '''[[Zahlé]]''', [[Lebanon]] (1974) *{{flagicon|ESP}} '''[[Granada]]''', [[Spain]] (1975) *{{flagicon|POR}} '''[[Porto]]''', [[Portugal]] (1986) *{{flagicon|BLR}} '''[[Minsk]]''', [[Belarus]] (1987)<ref name="Minsk">{{cite web |url=http://minsk.gov.by/ru/city/ |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130502075333/http://minsk.gov.by/ru/city/ |title=Twin towns and Sister cities of Minsk ''[via WaybackMachine.com]'' |publisher=The department of protocol and international relations of Minsk City Executive Committee |archivedate=2 May 2013 |accessdate=2013-07-21 |language=Russian}}</ref> *{{flagicon|CUB}} '''[[Havana]]''', [[Cuba]] (1995) *{{flagicon|PRC}} '''[[Nanjing]]''', [[China]] (1996) *{{flagicon|PLE}} '''[[Bethlehem]]''', [[Palestinian Authority]] (2001) *{{flagicon|SYR}} '''[[Homs]]''', [[Syria]] (2001) *{{flagicon|NCA}} '''[[Masaya]]''', [[Nicaragua]] (2002) *{{flagicon|LBY}} '''[[Tripoli]]''', [[Libya]] (2003) *{{flagicon|USA}} '''[[Fort Lauderdale]]''', [[United States]] (2003) *{{flagicon|HON}} '''[[Tegucigalpa]]''', [[Honduras]] (2004) *{{flagicon|ECU}} '''[[Cuenca, Ecuador|Cuenca]]''', [[Ecuador]] (2004) *{{flagicon|USA}} '''[[Newark, New Jersey]]''', United States (2006) *{{flagicon|NGA}} '''[[Lagos]]''', [[Nigeria]] (2011) {{Colend}} ==References== {{Reflist|colwidth=30em}} ==External links== {{Sister project links|Belo Horizonte|voy=Belo Horizonte}} ===Official=== *{{pt icon}} [http://www.pbh.gov.br/ Page of the City Hall of Belo Horizonte] *{{pt icon}} [http://www.mg.gov.br/ Page of the Government of the State of Minas Gerais] ===Education=== *{{pt icon}} [http://www.pucminas.br/ PUC-MG] - the Pontifical Catholic University of Minas Gerais *{{pt icon}} [http://www.unibh.br/ UNI-BH] - the University of Belo Horizonte *{{pt icon}} [http://www.ufmg.br/ UFMG] - [[Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais|Federal University of Minas Gerais]] *{{pt icon}} [http://www.cefetmg.br/ CEFET-MG] - [[Centro Federal de Educação Tecnológica de Minas Gerais|Federal Center of Technologic Education of Minas Gerais]] *{{en icon}} [http://www.eabh.com.br/eng/home.html Escola Americana de Belo Horizonte] - (American School of Belo Horizonte) *{{en icon}} [http://www.skema.edu/ SKEMA Business School] (SKEMA Business School) ===Photos=== * [http://belohorizonte.nafoto.net/ Images of Belo Horizonte] ===Architecture=== *{{pt icon}} [http://www.arqbh.com.br/ ARQBH] *{{pt icon}} [http://www.guiaarqbh.wordpress.com/ Guia Arquitetônico de Belo Horizonte] ===Tourism=== * [http://www.trilhacultural.com.br/roteiroTuristico/belo-horizonte-mg.php Tourism Belo Horizonte] * [http://www.what-they-say.com/Belo-Horizonte-1.html Information about Belo Horizonte] * [http://www.belo-horizonte.travel/destination_guide Travel Information] * [http://www.aboutbrasil.com/modules/brazil-brasil/rio-de-janeiro_sao-paulo_fortaleza.php?hoofd=3&sub=15&art=154 AboutBrasil/Belo Horizonte - Metropolis on the Horizon] *{{pt icon}} [http://www.belohorizonte.com/ BeloHorizonte.com - City Portal with services and business links] *{{pt icon}} [http://www.belotur.com.br/por/index.php Maplink - Belo Horizonte Street Guide and Maps] *{{pt icon}} [http://www.webbusca.com.br/pagam/guia_belo_horizonte.htm Belo Horizonte Yellow Pages] *{{pt icon}} [http://www.idasbrasil.com.br/idasbrasil/cidades/BeloHorizonte/port/cultura.asp Culture in Belo Horizonte] ===Food security=== * [http://www.worldfuturecouncil.org/future_policy_award_film_en.html Video] about Belo Horizonte's receipt of the World Future Policy award * [http://www.ryerson.ca/foodsecurity/projects/brazil/beloresources.html Presentations and papers on Belo Horizonte] by Brazilian Canadian economist Cecilia Rocha, Toronto Food Policy Council coordinator [[Wayne Roberts (activist)|Wayne Roberts]], and former city food security administrator Adriana Aranha at [[Ryerson University]]'s [http://www.ryerson.ca/foodsecurity/index.html Centre for Studies in Food Security] * [http://www.yesmagazine.org/issues/food-for-everyone/the-city-that-ended-hunger "The City that Ended Hunger"], Frances Moore Lappé's essay on Belo Horizonte's programs in Yes! Magazine ===Culture=== *{{pt icon}} [http://www.comidadibuteco.com.br/home.php?i=1 Comida di Buteco] Festival of bar appetizers. {{Navboxes |title = Articles Related to Belo Horizonte |list = {{Brazil topics|state=expanded}} {{Municipalities of Minas Gerais}} {{Capitals of Brazilian states}} }} {{Authority control}} [[Category:Belo Horizonte| ]] [[Category:Populated places established in 1701]] [[Category:Planned cities in Brazil]] [[Category:1701 establishments in Brazil]]'