8 Places to Be Enchanted by the Art Deco Collection in Goiânia

Goiânia

Art Deco is an artistic style that emerged in Europe in the 1920s and influenced arts, fashion, cinema, architecture, and interior design worldwide.

Goiânia is a planned and cosmopolitan city that offers a fascinating mix of history, art, gastronomy, and nature. Its more than 900 thousand trees scattered throughout streets and woods make this place a beautiful destination with a lively social atmosphere. To top it off, the city has one of the largest collections of Art Deco architecture in the country, and you can get to know a bit of this wealth!

Art Deco

The Art Deco style gained relevance in Brazil by beautifying the country’s first planned capital: Goiânia. Part of the Art Deco buildings in the state capital of Goiás has been listed by the National Historic and Artistic Heritage Institute (IPHAN) as Historical Heritage.

As you walk through the city center, you will see many of these buildings. You can take a self-guided tour, walking around the area, or hire a specialized guide who will tell you all the stories and curiosities behind this architecture. Here are the main points that should not be missed on your itinerary:

Praça Cívica

You can start your tour at Praça Cívica, right in the city center. One of the stops will be the Palácio das Esmeraldas, inaugurated in 1937 and, since then, has been the official seat of the state government. Its Art Deco composition has a predominance of straight lines and a sober character, leaning towards simplification. The green color of the building makes it even more prominent in the square.

Just a few steps from the Palácio das Esmeraldas is the Zoroastro Artiaga Goiano Museum, which has a large collection of expressive objects from the culture and history of the state of Goiás. Also in Praça Cívica, you will see the building of the Regional Electoral Court of Goiás. The building underwent an internal and external renovation that preserved all the originality of the Art Deco architectural style.

Walking towards Avenida Goiás, you will see the Coreto da Praça Cívica. It is one of the main representative buildings of Art Deco architecture in Goiânia and was inaugurated in 1942. The place was the scene of the main political, social, and cultural events of the new capital for several years. Climbing the steps of the bandstand, you can take incredible photos. On one side, the Palácio das Esmeraldas will be in the background, and on the other, Avenida Goiás with its immense trees will give color to your pictures!

Relógio Tower

The Relógio Tower on Avenida Goiás has also become a landmark of the city. Symbol of an era when the ideal of modernity was translated into the Art Deco style, the monument was erected along with the first buildings in the city that gradually changed the surrounding landscape.

Grande Hotel

This hotel was synonymous with luxury at the time of its inauguration in 1937. The construction was imposing, with three floors, 60 rooms, and four other luxury apartments. Pure status to stay there! The hotel hosted illustrious personalities such as the French anthropologist Claude Levi-Strauss, the Chilean poet Pablo Neruda, and the writer Monteiro Lobato. Nowadays, the hotel no longer operates as such, but it lived many years of glory!

Goiânia Palace Hotel

When you see a very pink building, it will be the Goiânia Palace Hotel. With over 70 years of age, the building is one of the protagonists of the city’s history. The Art Deco features also reach and slide the entrance of the hotel. Ah, you can still stay there!

Goiânia Railway Station

The Maria Fumaça whistled for the first time through downtown Goiânia in the early 1950s. As a reminder of that period, the beautiful Railway Station remained, with its striking features and details that so well symbolize the Art Deco collection of the capital. And there’s even a car for you to take a picture!

Teatro Goiânia

Teatro Goiânia is the most noble and traditional cultural space in the city. It was inaugurated in 1942 and was also a film screening room. The sumptuous space was a meeting point for intellectuals, artists, and political figures. The Theater was renovated and preserves all the characteristics of the architecture of the time. To this day, the building hosts cultural performances. It’s worth checking out the schedule!

Mureta and Trampoline of Lago das Rosas

Arriving at Lago das Rosas Park, you will see a trampoline in the middle of the water. It was widely used by visitors and in competitions, but today it is just a memory of the time. In the park, you will also see a small wall with approximately 150 meters, built in the Art Deco style.

Pedro Ludovico Museum

To finish your itinerary, how about learning more about the history of Goiânia? The house where Pedro Ludovico lived became a museum, and the mansion is a highlight in Goiânia’s architectural history. The place even has the first residential pool in Goiânia, and the TV on display was the first color TV in the state of Goiás. It’s a real journey through time!

Goiânia will provide you with experiences like these and many others. Follow the Visit Brasil Blog and our social media, all @visitbrasil, to stay informed about everything you can enjoy in Brazilian destinations.