Brazil Flag

Brazil Architecture

See The Cathedral of Brasília

The Cathedral of Brasília (Portuguese: Catedral Metropolitana Nossa Senhora Aparecida, "Metropolitan Cathedral of Our Lady of Aparecida") is the Roman Catholic cathedral serving Brasília, Brazil, and serves as the seat of the Archdiocese of Brasília. It was designed by Oscar Niemeyer, and was completed and dedicated on May 31, 1970. The cathedral is a hyperboloid structure constructed from 16 concrete columns, weighing 90 tons each. A 12-meter (39 ft) wide, 40-centimeter (16 in) deep reflecting pool surrounds the cathedral roof, helping to cool the cathedral.


In the square access to the cathedral, are four 3-meter (9.8 ft) tall bronze sculptures representing the four Evangelists created in 1968. These tall, bronze sculptures were the work of the famous up-and-coming sculptor Dante Croce. He was enlisted by the architect and the "brains" behind the whole thing, Oscar Niemeyer. He was the architect of many huge and beautiful projects such as Depoimento and the Tremaine House, which sadly, went unbuilt. He was also an avid political activist, which cost him, as he got exiled, but was a gift in disguise, as he had the opportunity and the skill to work overseas. Now, there are mueseums and sculptures and buildings, all dedicated to him.

This concrete-framed structure appears with its glass roof to be reaching up to heaven. Most of the cathedral is below ground, with only the 70-meter (230 ft) diameter 42-meter (138 ft) roof of the cathedral, the ovoid roof of the baptistry, and the bell tower visible above ground. The shape of the roof is based in a hyperboloid of revolution with asymmetric sections. The hyperboloid structure consists of 16 concrete columns assembled on site. These columns, having hyperbolic section and weighing (99 tons), represent two hands moving upwards to heaven.





See The Ministry of External Relations

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MRE; Portuguese: Ministério das Relações Exteriores) conducts Brazil's foreign relations with other countries. It is commonly referred to in Brazilian media and diplomatic jargon as Itamaraty, after the palace which houses the ministry (originally in Rio de Janeiro, and currently in a second location which also bears this name in Brasília). As of 7 March 2017 the ministry is headed by Chancellor Aloysio Nunes. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs operates the Rio Branco Institute and the Alexandre de Gusmão Foundation.


There were three relevant moments that defined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as the institution that would later be established. The first was the signature of the 1750 Spanish–Portuguese treaty, which re-established the borders set in the Treaty of Tordesillas. This moment was not a foreign issue policy of Brazil per se, but was instead a pursuit of interests by the Portuguese in their largest colony. There was, however, a notable Brazilian in the diplomatic corps, Alexandre de Gusmão, who directed the Portuguese foreign policy of trying to separate the Americas from the subject of European successions. The height of Gusmão's diplomaticy was the signing of the Treaty of Madrid.

The primary objective of the Brazilian foreign ministry is to increase the process of regional integration with Mercosur and other regional and financial bodies. It has also been heavily involved in the discussion of important topics on the international agenda including issues such as the protection of human rights, environmental preservation and the maintenance of peace. At the same time, it has strengthened its links with the Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries and is structured to meet the needs and ambitions of foreign policy concerns.





See The National Congress of Brazil

The National Congress of Brazil (Portuguese: Congresso Nacional do Brasil) is the legislative body of Brazil's federal government. Unlike the state Legislative Assemblies and Municipal Chambers, the Congress is bicameral, composed of the Federal Senate (the upper house) and the Chamber of Deputies (the lower house). The Congress meets annually in its Brasília seat from 2 February to 27 July and from 1 August to 22 December. The semi-sphere on the left is the seat of the Senate, and the semi-sphere on the right is the seat of the Chamber of the Deputies.


In early 1900s, the Brazilian National Congress happened to be in separate buildings, with The Senate and The Federal Chamber of Deputies seperated. Since the 1960s, the National Congress has been located in Brasília. As with most of the city's government buildings, the National Congress building was designed by Oscar Niemeyer in the modern Brazilian style. The semi-sphere on the left is the seat of the Senate, and the semi-sphere on the right is the seat of the Chamber of the Deputies. Between them are two vertical office towers. The Congress also occupies other surrounding office buildings, some of them interconnected by a tunnel. The building is located in the middle of the Monumental Axis.

On December 6, 2007, the Institute of Historic and Artistic National Heritage (Portuguese: Instituto do Patrimônio Histórico e Artístico Nacional) decided to declare the building of the National Congress a historical heritage of the Brazilian people. The building is also among the UNESCO World Heritage Sites, as part of Brasília's original urban buildings, since 1987. At least two other buildings are similar to the National Congress building: Sokos Hotel Viru in Tallinn, Estonia and the Greece–Bosnia and Herzegovina Friendship Building in Sarajevo.