City Tour Musical Reviving BH : JK, Niemeyer and the Esquina Club

What's Included

Meeting and pickup

Itinerary

• 1
  Pampulha Modern Ensemble

  We will walk a little along the shore of the lagoon.The artificial lagoon is surrounded by iconic works by Oscar Niemeyer and landscaping by Roberto Burle Marx. We will walk to the Casa do Baile, officially called the Centre of Reference for Architecture, Urbanism and Design, is one of the jewels of the Modern Ensemble of Pampulha in Belo Horizonte. Designed by Oscar Niemeyer at the invitation of Juscelino Kubitschek in the 1940s, it is recognized as a Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO. The Pampulha Casino, opened in 1943 in Belo Horizonte, was the first piece of the famous Modern Pampulha Conjunto, commissioned by then mayor Juscelino Kubitschek to architect Oscar Niemeyer. The Yacht Tennis Club which is a historical and architectural landmark of Belo Horizonte, located on the edge of the Lagoa da Pampulha. Designed by Oscar Niemeyer in the 1940s at the request of Juscelino Kubitschek, the club is part of the Modern Ensemble of Pamplona, recognized as a Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO

  45 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 2
  Santuario Arquidiocesano Sao Francisco de Assis

  Church of San Francisco of Assisi from Pamplona.Known as Igrejinha da Pampulha, it is one of the main icons of Brazilian modern architecture. Designed in 1940 by Oscar Niemeyer on the banks of the Pampulha Lagoon in Belo Horizonte, the church revolutionized religious architecture by using free curves and swinged concrete, breaking with traditional models. The project brought together important Brazilian artists of the 20th century: Roberto Burle Marx was responsible for landscaping integrated into the architectural ensemble; Candido Portinari created the facade tiles panels and the interior paintings, including the famous representation of San Francisco; and Alfredo Ceschiatti produced sculptures that complement the artistic composition of the work. Commanded by then mayor Juscelino Kubitschek, the church became a symbol of national modernism and is now part of the Modern Complex of Pamplona recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

  15 minutes • Admission ticket not included
• 3
  Casa Kubitschek

  Mirante Bandeirante “da Lagoa” in front of Casa JK*. The Bandeirante Mirante houses real-sized bronze sculptures by Juscelino Kubitschek, Oscar Niemeyer, Burle Marx and Cândido Portinari. The works celebrate the visionaries who transformed Pampulha into a Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The "Kasa JK" on the other side of the Avenue refers to the Casa Kubitschek Museum, an iconic modernist residence located on the edge of the Lagoa da Pampulha in Belo Horizonte. Designed by Oscar Niemeyer in 1943, it served as a weekend haven for Juscelino Kubitschek while he was mayor of the mining capital. The house is a landmark of Brazilian modern architecture, featuring the famous "butterfly roof", wide glass windows and total integration with the exterior.

  10 minutes • Admission ticket free
• Praca Sete de Setembro (Pass by)

  PRAÇA SETE, considered the heart of the city, the venue of cultural and political-partisan manifestations, such as those of the Military Regime of 64, where the Helena Passig Building is located, and where the young Miltom Nascimento worked as an office worker in the Central Electrica de Furnas

  Admission ticket free
• 4
  Edificio Maletta

  Edificio Archangelo Maletta (***) - Historic building located in the centre of Belo Horizonte, was built on top of the Grand Hotel in the year 1957. Inaugurated in late 1961 its use is both commercial and residential. It has several establishments such as sebos, bookstores, hairdressers, lan house and restaurants. But this whole commercial climate, completely changes when the sun sets! The place is a true gastronomic center, marked by cultural diversity, with many options of bars, cafes, drinkeries and restaurants. We will also know the Cantina do Lucas reduto of friends from the Esquina Club and that, even today, is a symbol of Bohemia, bringing together intellectuals, politicians, journalists and writers. On the second floor of this building, the Boate Berimbau operated, where Wagner Tiso and Miltom Nascimento made one of their first performances in BH.

  30 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 5
  Praca da Liberdade

  Plaza de la Libertad (**) - located in the heart of Belo Horizonte, is one of the main postcards of Minas Gerais. Built in the late 19th century to be the seat of the administrative power of the new capital, it houses the Circuit Liberté, one of the country's largest cultural complexes. The square is surrounded by museums and historic buildings that blend various architectural styles, from Oscar Niemeyer’s eclectic to modern. We walked through the square through the Alameda Travessia and visualized the rich set of buildings around it, as well as the Palace of Liberty and the local State Public Library where Fernando Brant and Márcio Borges used to attend. ** Bathroom at CCBB.

  15 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 6
  Minas Tenis Clube

  Minas Tennis Club is one of the most traditional sociosportive and cultural institutions in Brazil, based in Belo Horizonte. Founded on 15 November 1935, the club celebrates 90 years of history in 2025/2026, being an essential pillar of sport, leisure and culture in the mining capital. In this place we will learn about Pacífico Mascarenhas, social director of the Club composer, musician and Brazilian producer, consecrated as the "father of Bossa Nova Mineira". Born from Belo Horizonte, he was a central figure in the cultural life of the capital, especially in the Savassi neighborhood, and acted as a fundamental link between the bossa nova movement in Rio de Janeiro and the musical scene of Minas Gerais.

  10 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 7
  Mercado Central de Belo Horizonte

  A quick 30-minute stop to learn about the cultural and gastronomic heart of the mining capital, with more than 400 stores offering from typical delicacies to crafts.

  30 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 8
  Praca Duque de Caxias

  We pass by Duque de Caxias Square in the Santa Tereza neighborhood.

  Admission ticket free
• 9
  Placa Comemorativa do Clube da Esquina

  Quartier Santa Teresa, a region of the city with many bars, restaurants and an unmatched bohemian life, crossing the Plaza Duque de Caxias that, surrounded by several destroyed properties, reveals the peaceful life of a piece of the city that seems to be isolated from all the urban chaos. We passed in front of the Borges Family House, an official meeting point for friends to land in front of the famous Esquina that gave rise to the musical movement.

  10 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 10
  Bar do Museu Clube da Esquina

  The Space was designed to honor and maintain the flame of the Musical Movement Clube da Esquina which is located a few meters from the corner of the Ruas Paraisópolis and Divinópolis, operating since December 2015. The Memorial has three environments : two stages and a permanent exhibition called “Because they were called dreams”. The cuisine with a well-miner style offers dishes, snacks, drinks, beer and chopp well-frozen with some stories that relate to the members of Clube da Esquina. There are live musical presentations every day in which the house opens many simultaneously on both stages and always with a repertoire of the good and rich songs of MPB from Minas and Brazil. In the Exhibition the visitor will find facilities with photographs in six environments that portray a piece of the history of the Musical Movement containing explanations that with explanations through Qrcodes that also serve the blind, visually impaired and auditory in up to 60 languages.

  3 hours • Admission ticket included

Additional info

• Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
• Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness

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