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Pampulha District

North of the city center is the beautiful district of Pampulha, a creation of the Brazilian modernist movement in the 1940s. Then mayor Juscelino Kubitschek invited the likes of Oscar Niemeyer, Burle Marx, and Alfredo Ceschiatti to turn the suburb into a tourism and leasure area. Kubitschek in 1956 became Brazil's president, and appointed Niemeyer to create Brasilia, as the new capital of Brazil.


25. The modernist Igreja de São Francisco de Assis


The district's architecture was guided by the teachings of the Bauhaus and Niemeyer's own mentor, the celebrated architect Le Corbusier. Set on a the artificial Pampulha lake, the Igreja de São Francisco and the nearby Museu de Arte were well ahead of their time.


26. Museu de Arte: nestled within the landscape


Originally created with socialist ideals, ironically Pampulha became an expensive (and exclusive) neighborhood. A section of the artificial lake is now a private athletic club, and the homes along the lake belong to Brazil's upper society.


27. A walk near the private athletic club



28. There are some nice houses by the lake


Still, Pampulha belongs to all Brazilians. In the afternoons here you'll find people from all walks of life enjoying the tranquility of the suburb. It's a nice place to just relax and wind down, have a picnic lunch, and enjoy the view.


29. A nice place to enjoy the view

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