Story Highlights
- Historical event
- 21 April 1960
- The seat of the Brazilian state authorities was moved from the former capital of Rio de Janeiro to Brasilia, the planned city built in the area of the former rainforest, on this day in 1960.
The newly-built city of Brasilia became the capital of Brazil on this day in 1960.
Specifically, the seat of the Brazilian state authorities was moved from the former capital of Rio de Janeiro to Brasilia (Rio had been the capital of Brazil since the Declaration of independence in 1822, i.e. during a period of 138 years).
Brasília is a planned city built in the area of the former rainforest.
It had been under construction for about four years, and Juscelino Kubitschek was the Brazilian president during that time (he was of Czech origin). Brasilia`s population grew very quickly, and its wider metropolitan area has about 4 million inhabitants today.
The Brazilian presidential residence (Palácio da Alvorada) is located in Brasilia, as is the Palácio do Planalto.
Buildings and ministries, the Brazilian parliament and various government bodies, and more than 120 foreign embassies are located in Brasilia. There is also an impressive Catholic Cathedral.
