Brazil’s Capital Brasília Getting Face Lift to Celebrate Its 50th Birthday

Brasília cathedralBrasília, the capital of Brazil, will be 50 years old on April 21st and the city is getting a face lift. For example, the Metropolitan Cathedral, with its huge crown of concrete thorns, is undergoing a major renovation that began eight months ago and will not be complete until long after the city celebrates its next anniversary.

However, the exterior area of the temple will be ready for the celebrations and the archbishop of Brasília, Dom João Braz de Avis, says he intends to hold a mass there on April 21st, no matter what. The church itself is scheduled to be open to the public again only in 2011.

Marcelo Abreu Noleto sells souvenirs in front of the cathedral and is not too happy with the situation. He says that with the outside of the building shrouded in enormous sheets of plastic and entrance not permitted, most tourists just take a couple of pictures and then drive off. He is not selling very much these days. “A lot of visitors don’t even get out of their cars,” he complains.

On the other side of the Esplanada (Mall), down at the other end, is the Brazilian White House, the Palácio do Planalto. It is also undergoing some big changes.

Much of the building has practically been gutted so the president’s workplace can be modernized. The work there has a 88 million reais (US$ 51 million) budget compared to 25 million reais (US$ 14 million) for the cathedral and includes a new 500-car underground garage.

Authorities promise that it will be ready on April 21.

Meanwhile, in the area around the base of the TV tower a permanent bazaar and artisan fair will be moved to another location so tourists can move around with more ease.

ABr

Tags:

You May Also Like

Obama’s Psychological Blackmail Has Been Done Before in Brazil, with Success

Besides listening to the national anthem with his hands over his genitals instead of ...

In His Talks to Obama Brazil’s Lula Will Urge Global Credit Relief

Talking to reporters before embarking for Washington, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva ...

Brazil Breaks Abbott’s Patent and Will Make AIDS Drug for Half the Price

The Brazilian government filed a request to break the patent of the drug, Kaletra, ...

Bush Back from Brazil After Abortive Free Trade Crusade

U.S. President George W. Bush wrapping up his Latinamerican tour in Panama said Monday, ...

Furniture Show Brings Europe and US to Brazil

The International Machinery, Raw Materials and Accessories Trade Show for the Furniture Industry – ...

Brazilian Flower Exports Jump 10%. Holland and US Are Main Destination

In the first four months this year, Brazil exported US$ 10.15 million in flowers ...

Brazil Fears High Interest Rates Only Won’t Halt Inflation

Latin American markets were mixed to higher today, as Mexico and Argentina benefited from ...

Brazil’s Elections and the Power of the Status Quo

Brazil’s presidential election campaign, already marked by tragedy, continues with high drama after the ...

Cowboy Ronald Reagan and Brazil’s Mystique

Brazil is the last big frontier of retirement for Americans. The city of Barretos ...

Brazil’s Big and Small Companies Want a Deal with Arabs

Three hundred Brazilian companies are participating in business roundtables with importers from Iraq, Jordan, ...