Brasília is the capital of Brazil and a purpose-built city renowned for its bold modernist architecture.
Brazil inaugurated Brasília as its capital on April 21, 1960, moving the seat of government inland from Rio de Janeiro. The relocation was intended to encourage development in Brazil's interior and place the capital closer to the country's geographic center. President Juscelino Kubitschek championed the project, which was designed by urban planner Lúcio Costa and architect Oscar Niemeyer.
Costa's Pilot Plan organized the city around monumental avenues and superquadras, or large residential blocks with shared green space and local services. Niemeyer's sculptural government buildings, including the National Congress, the Palácio do Planalto, and the Cathedral of Brasília, made exposed concrete, sweeping curves, and dramatic geometry central to the city's identity.
Brasília became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987 for its modernist architecture and innovative urban planning. A common mistake is choosing Rio de Janeiro, Brazil's former capital and internationally famous tourist city. Salvador was Brazil's first colonial capital, but Brasília is the present-day federal capital.