Belo Horizonte

Introducing Belo Horizonte

Known to locals as Bay-Agah (that’s Portuguese for BH), Belo Horizonte was named for its beautiful view of nearby mountains. If you climb into the hills south of town at sunset and survey the vast checkerboard of streets below, the city can still be strikingly beautiful. Still, many people give Belo a miss altogether, based on reports that it’s smoggy and overdeveloped. There’s some truth there, but the city has considerable other charms.

The longer you stay in Belo, the more it grows on you. Walk down the buzzing cosmopolitan streets of the Savassi neighborhood on a Saturday evening, eat at one of the fine restaurants in Lourdes, stroll through the densely packed market stalls at the Mercado Central, attend a concert at the Palácio das Artes, or visit the brand-new Inhotim art museum west of the city, and you’ll see that Belo has countless dimensions. Add to all this the friendly, welcoming nature of Belo’s people and you’ve got a winning combination. Stick around a few days – you might grow fond of the place.

Last updated: Feb 17, 2009