In 1897, the City of Minas Gerais was founded, later renamed Belo Horizonte in 1901. Aarão Reis's urban plan for the capital of Minas Gerais gave rise to the first modern planned city in Brazil. The orthogonal grid defining blocks, major corridors, and distinct urban zones was inspired by other city models, such as Paris and Washington, reflecting modernizing and republican ideals that shaped the territory's spatial hierarchy.
Since then, with each historical period, new architectural landmarks have added layers to the urban landscape. One of the most significant milestones in the city's changing landscape was the construction of the Pampulha Modern Ensemble, opened in the 1940s and designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2016. The ensemble consists of the first three buildings listed in the guide below, alongside the landscape shaped by the integration of Pampulha Lake, Roberto Burle Marx's gardens, the Yacht Golf Club (now the Yacht Tennis Club), and Dalva Simão Square (formerly Santa Rosa).
In recent years, Belo Horizonte has gained prominence for its creative economy and cultural expressions. Following the construction of the Administrative City in 2010 in the northern part of the city, the area surrounding Praça da Liberdade in the city center was transformed into a Cultural Circuit, featuring spaces that integrate art, popular culture, knowledge, and entertainment.
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