Secretaria da Viação, Praça da Liberdade, Historic administrative building in Praça da Liberdade, Brazil
The Secretaria da Viação is a former administrative building on Praça da Liberdade in Belo Horizonte that spans four floors. It houses archives and a library on the ground level, while upper sections serve cultural and administrative purposes today.
The building gained heritage status in 1977 through Iepha-MG and again in 1994 from Belo Horizonte's municipal government. It was constructed using Belgian cast iron stairs and granite steps that reflected advanced engineering techniques of its era.
The building now hosts the Cemig Pinacoteca Art Gallery and a cultural center, where you can find regional cuisine, crafts, and Afro-Brazilian traditions on display. Visitors can see how local artists and artisans share their work with the community.
The building sits in central Belo Horizonte on the active Praça da Liberdade square. Access is straightforward, and visitors should plan time to explore the various exhibition areas and archive sections throughout the site.
The building's Belgian cast iron stairs showcase a rare metalworking technique from the early 1900s that is seldom found in Latin America. This imported construction method made the structure a noteworthy example of international architecture from that period.
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