Brasilia received the title of Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 1987, granted by UNESCO, for being a landmark of modern architecture and urbanism. Its cultural identity is a miscellany of diverse cultural manifestations of all part of Brazil, inherited from the workers who helped to construct the city and who migrated from many parts of the country.

Brasilia is the third capital of Brazil, being preceded by Salvador (1549-1763), and Rio de Janeiro (1763-1960). The idea of moving the country's capital to a more central region emerged in the 19^th century from the fear of possible sea attacks it might suffer - Salvador and Rio de Janeiro are coastal cities. Already in the 20^th century the purpose of the capital's change changed - now the transfer to a central region was given to the best administration of the country considering that Brazil is a continental country.

The city was planned by Lucio Costa, by Oscar Niemeyer, responsible for the projects of the monuments, by Burle Marx, planner of gardens and squares, and Athos Bulcao, artist of tile panels. Construction began in 1956 and Brasilia was inaugurated on April 21, 1960, the day of Tiradentes, an important figure in Brazilian history who worked for the independence of Brazil.