Goiânia in Brazil

Just off the BR-060, 209 km southwest of Brasília, is the second of Brazil's planned state capitals, after Belo Horizonte. Goiânia was founded in 1933 and replaced Goiás Velho as capital four years later. The city is famous for its street cafés and is a good place to stop between Brasília and the rest of the interior. Tourism is not as developed here as in other parts of the country, but the city is pleasant and there are some interesting sights within easy reach. Goiânia is spacious with more parks and gardens than any other of Brazil's large cities and many are filled with interesting forest and

plants, as well as marmosets and remarkably large numbers of birds.

. Also see www.goias.gov.br.

The centre of the city is

, with well-lit main avenues radiating out in all directions. On the

stand the government palace, the main post office and the

From the

, Avenida Araguaia runs northeast to the shady

, with recreational facilities and a

More tranquil is the

-filled tropical gardens and a turtle-filled pond. In the gardens of the Bosque dos Buritis is the

hotel is set in large gardens and is a good place to while away an afternoon.

A kilometre east of Praça Cívica, the

of the Centre West.

The

The

life, with reconstructions of indigenous villages,

and colonial streets as well as planted

vegetation.

The thermal springs at

, 240 km south on the Rio Paranaíba, are worth a visit, as are the fantastic rock formations of the Serra das Galés at

, 160 km south-southwest off BR-060. There are a host of delightful, colonial mining villages within two hours' drive on good (often paved) roads. Travel agents in Goîania can arrange day tours.

Goiás's most beloved resort is a hot-water theme park for families and weekenders. Hundreds of hotels line the hot river and are dotted around the various thermal springs at

(7 km from town) and

(29 km from the town, bus from Caldas Novas). There are many buses from Goiânia; best reached from Morrinhos on BR-153 (Goiânia-São Paulo). The bus from Morrinhos costs US$1, 30 minutes.

, a busy but uninteresting trading centre, is 57 km closer to Brasília than Goiânia. The

offered, and staff will show visitors how real and synthetic gemstones are distinguished. There is a library and shop.

The scruffy, unpleasant town of

is also famous for its semi-precious stones, which can be bought cheaply in local shops. An interesting excursion is to the panning and mining sites amid magnificent

, about 6 km away. Take the BR-040 (Brasília-Belo Horizonte road) and at Km 104 turn left along a dirt road, just after the highway police post, to the

(11 km along this road).