Overview:
Américo Renê Giannetti Municipal Park, or Parque Municipal Américo Renê Giannetti, in Belo Horizonte, capital of Minas Gerais, is a verdant ecosystem with 280 species of native and exotic trees, an orchid garden, trails and natural springs that feed three ponds. About 50 species of birds live in the park, which spreads over 45 acres in the heart of downtown Belo Horizonte, a densely populated area known as the Hypercenter.
The park is named for Renê Giannnetti, mayor of Belo Horizonte in the 1950s, who promoted its first major remodeling.
Culture and Entertainment:
Sports, social activities and major events add to the importance of Américo Renê Giannetti Municipal Park to the population of Belo Horizonte. Famous writers and artists have been regulars; one of Belo Horizonte's soccer teams - Clube Atlético Mineiro - was founded within park premises in 1909.
In 1975, the park was listed as a landscape and architectural heritage site by the IEPHA - Historic and Artistic Heritage Institute of Minas Gerais.
History:
Even before Belo Horizonte, a planned city, was inaugurated as the capital of Minas Gerais, Municipal Park Renê Giannetti was established as its first public park. The park opened on Sep. 26, 1897, while the city was inaugurated almost three months later, on December 12.
According to the Belo Horizonte City Administration website, the park was designed by French landscape architect Paul Villon and initially covered 137 acres.
The park area was originally part of a farm called Chácara do Sapo, or Frog Ranch, which was home to Aarão Reis, the engineer who designed Belo Horizonte.
Over the course of the last century, buildings added to the park area have included a university, a state health center, Francisco Nunes Theater and Palácio das Artes (Palace of the Arts).
Address :
Avenida Afonso Pena 1377
Downtown
Belo Horizonte - MG
Phone:
31-3277-4161
31-3277-4882
Hours:
Tues-Sun, 6a-6p
Hours for the cultural venues at the park vary.
Admission:
Free
