Palácio Itamaraty

At the end of the Esplanada do Ministérios lie two of Niemeyer’s most famous works: the Palácio Itamaraty and the Palácio de Justiça.

Housing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Palácio Itamaraty (Esplanada dos Ministérios, tel. 61/3411-8051, www.mre.gov.br [1], free guided visits daily) is a disarmingly elegant fusion of classicism and modernism. The exterior is impressive enough: its raw concrete arcades sheltering a glittering glass box are reflected in pools of water that surround the construction like a moat.

The island gardens featuring Amazonian plants were designed by Burle Marx, while the stunning abstract sculpture O Meteoro (The Meteor), whose interlocking pieces represent the Earth’s continents, was carved by Bruno Giorgi from four tons of Carrara marble.

Don’t neglect to take a tour inside. The sprawling, open interior with its garden courtyards is a veritable who’s who of 20th-century Brazilian artists. Sculptures by Ceschiatti, Victor Brecheret, and Lasar Segall and paintings by Cândido Portinari and Alfredo Volpi are a few of the works that decorate the vast salons furnished with plush Persian carpets and exquisite antiques. Guided visits are 40 minutes long and need to be reserved in advance.