Located in Southeastern Brazil, Belo Horizonte, the capital of Minas Gerais State has a population of over 2.5 million. The city forms a dense connection with 34 municipalities, the  Belo Horizonte metropolitan region with more than six million inhabitants. Belo Horizonte is surrounded by a beautiful mountain range, which is part of the symbol of the city, highlighting the importance of this natural landscape in the Belo Horizonte resident’s life. The Serra do Curral is part of the Serra do Espinhaço, a mountain range recognized as a Biosphere Reserve by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco). Special Protection Area, Ecological Station, state and municipal parks, and reserves of rural properties are included in the tipping perimeter of Serra do Curral. Visiting Belo Horizonte, places as the Américo Renné Giannetti Municipal Park, a public garden inspired by French parks built during the Belle Époque, Mangabeiras Park and Serra do Curral Park, both located in the Serra do Curral and examples of the largest urban parks in Latin America, should be visited.

In the vicinity of UFMG, there is the Pampulha Lagoon, with the Hangover Island, which houses the Pampulha Ecological Park with 300 000 m2. The Pampulha Architectural Ensemble was inscribed in 2016 on the world heritage list (UNESCO). The area has several historic buildings, such as the Church of St. Francis of Assisi, designed by the Brazilian modernist architect Oscar Niemeyer.

Belo Horizonte has several historic buildings, museums, squares, and churches. It is known for its bustling nightlife and excellent gastronomy. The city has excellent shopping malls and houses a very disputed food and craft fair, receiving about 60,000 people on Sunday mornings.

The city is surrounded by historic cities that can be visited in one day, such as Ouro

Preto (founded in 1711), Mariana, Sabará, Tiradentes, and Congonhas, as well as

others a little further away as Diamantina.

An unmissable visit is to the Instituto Inhotim, one of the world’s largest open-air

museums of contemporary art (and botanic garden), located in Brumadinho, around

100 km far from Belo Horizonte.

Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo are a 1-hour flight away.