Brazil / About the city
Introducing Belo Horizonte
Belo Horizonte is a young city with roots deeply connected to the countryside of Minas Gerais, from where many of the first residents of the new capital came. This heritage has helped transform BH, as the city is affectionately known, into a synthesis of Minas Gerais culture and one of the main showcases of its traditions.
This identity is also expressed through food. In Belo Horizonte, recipes, ingredients, culinary techniques and knowledge passed down through generations coexist with new techniques, experiences and ways of thinking about food. Tradition and creativity come together in markets, fairs, bars, restaurants, kitchens and other spaces that make gastronomy an expression of the culture and way of life of Belo Horizonte.
The city's cultural vibrancy is closely connected to gastronomy and engages with the arts, design, architecture, literature, knowledge and innovation. It is within this environment of encounters and exchanges that Belo Horizonte strengthens its vocation as a creative city, making culture and creativity important pathways for urban, social and economic development.
Surrounded by the Serra do Curral mountain range, which provides a natural backdrop, a historic reference and one of the main symbols of its landscape, Belo Horizonte covers an area of approximately 331 km². The capital lies at the heart of a metropolitan region comprising 34 municipalities, expanding its sphere of influence and reinforcing its role as a hub for services, business, culture, tourism and the creative economy.
Its strategic location also facilitates connections with different regions of the country. Belo Horizonte International Airport is now one of Brazil's major aviation hubs, ranking first in Brazil in terms of the number of domestic destinations served, with direct international connections to South America, Central America, North America and Europe.
With a Gross Domestic Product of approximately BRL 130.2 billion, Belo Horizonte ranks fifth among Brazilian municipalities. Creativity is part of its DNA and is expressed in music, the arts, architecture, design, fashion and, especially, gastronomy — transforming references, traditions and knowledge into new experiences that have gained national and international recognition.
/ Climate & gastronomy
Challenges and actions
Belo Horizonte faces increasing climate-related challenges, particularly extreme heat, intense rainfall, flooding, landslides, drought and water stress, which can disproportionately affect vulnerable communities. The city has therefore strengthened its climate governance through the Local Climate Action Plan (PLAC-BH), which combines mitigation and adaptation measures, including urban greening, nature-based solutions, sustainable mobility, water management and the expansion of urban agriculture.
Gastronomy and food systems are an important part of this response. Belo Horizonte promotes agroecological urban agriculture, community and institutional gardens, food education and short food-supply chains, helping to increase access to healthy food while strengthening local resilience and biodiversity. The city's food and nutrition security policies explicitly connect agroecology, sustainable food systems, climate action and social justice.
A recent example is the 2026–2029 Municipal Food and Nutrition Security Plan (PLAMSAN), which includes actions to promote agroecological production, access to markets, circular and resilient food systems, and climate mitigation and resilience. The Sustainable Territories Programme also integrates agroecological farming, agroforestry, environmental recovery, food security and income generation in vulnerable territories.
In this context, gastronomy is understood not only as a cultural asset, but also as a tool for climate resilience, sustainable development, food security and local economic empowerment. This approach connects Belo Horizonte's identity as a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy with broader environmental and social policies.
