Esplanada dos Ministerios

Welcome to the Esplanada dos Ministérios, the grand administrative boulevard that serves as the backbone of the Brazilian federal government. We are standing on one of the most significant urban spaces in the world, a vast green…

The seventeen ministry buildings that line the Esplanada are the most striking example of architectural uniformity in Brasília. Each block is a nine-story rectangular prism, characterized by its glass facades and concrete…

The vast green strip that runs down the center of the Esplanada is perhaps its most important feature. Known as the 'mall,' this space was inspired by Loo-see-oo Cos-tah’s study of grand international boulevards. …

While most of the ministry buildings are identical, there are a few notable exceptions near the far end of the Esplanada. The Palácio da Justiça, or Ministry of Justice, is one of the most beautiful of these. …

Adjacent to the Ministry of Justice is the Palácio do Itamaraty, the headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Widely considered Ooz-kar Nee-my-er’s most beautiful work, this building is also known as the 'Palace of the…

As you approach the National Congress, the Esplanada widens into a section known as the Alameda dos Estados, or the Avenue of the States. This area is lined with the flags of all twenty-six Brazilian states and the Federal…

Located at the western beginning of the Esplanada is the Complexo Cultural da República, which includes the National Museum and the National Library. These two structures, designed by Ooz-kar Nee-my-er and inaugurated in 2006,…

As we conclude our journey down the Esplanada dos Ministérios, take a final look back toward the TV Tower. The sheer scale and symmetry of this boulevard are a powerful testament to the ambition of the mid-20th century. …