City history
A masterpiece of urban planning, Belo Horizonte was established in the late 19th century to serve as the modern capital of Minas Gerais, replacing the colonial Ouro Preto.
Chapter one
Earliest documented name
"Settlement of the King's Corral"
Before the formal foundation of the modern city, the site was known as Arraial do Curral del Rei, a small settlement that existed within the territory that would eventually become the planned capital.
Settlement of the King's Corral
A rural settlement and precursor to the urban layout of the modern capital.
Beautiful Horizon
Chosen to reflect the scenic views of the surrounding mountains and the city's modern aspirations.
Chapter two
The Brazilian federal government officially suspended the use of daylight saving time, meaning Belo Horizonte no longer shifts its clocks annually.
With the founding of the city, timekeeping transitioned from local solar observations toward standardized national time formats used in the new capital.
Chapter three
Belo Horizonte was officially founded as a planned city, designed by engineer Aarão Reis to replace Ouro Preto as the state capital.
The administration of Minas Gerais officially moved its seat from the colonial city of Ouro Preto to the newly established Belo Horizonte.
Brazil implemented more rigorous national time standards, consolidating the time zones used in major urban centers like Belo Horizonte.