Goiania history

Unlike many historic cities in Brazil whose roots go back to the colonial era, Goiania is a prime example of planned urban development and an ambitious project of the 20th century. The city was officially founded on October 24, 1933, on the initiative of Pedro Ludovico Teixeira, who was the state governor at the time. The main objective was to create a new, modern capital for the state of Goiás to replace the old administrative centre, the city of Goiás (known as Goiás Velho).

Moving the capital was a strategic decision aimed at modernising administration and stimulating the economic development of the country's central territories. The site for the new capital was chosen on a vast central plateau, which provided excellent conditions for growth, logistics development, and the transformation of the city into a new administrative and commercial hub. The old city of Goiás, with its colonial buildings and geographical location in a mountainous area, could no longer meet the needs of the rapidly developing region.

One of the most recognisable features of Goiania became its innovative development plan, executed in the Art Deco style. Thanks to this, the city today possesses one of the largest architectural ensembles of this movement in Latin America, which is recognised as a national historical heritage of Brazil. This style, popular in the 1920s and 1930s, reflected the spirit of modernity and progress, which fully corresponded to the idea of creating a city "from scratch".

From the very beginning of its existence, Goiania quickly established itself as an economic centre for a vast agricultural region specialising in livestock and farming. The city became a key node for trade and services. Parallel to economic growth, a cultural identity was formed, closely linked to the unique architectural appearance and status of a modern city. The establishment of major educational institutions, such as the Federal University of Goiás, finally cemented Goiania's reputation as an important scientific and educational centre of the region.

Key Milestones in the History of Goiania

The history of Goiania is a living chronicle of how a bold urban planning concept was brought to life, turning a virtually empty plateau into a thriving metropolis. The key events presented below reflect the stages of this amazing journey.

• 1933 — The implementation of the ambitious project begins: on October 24, the foundation stone of Goiania is laid, the future capital of the state of Goiás, born as a symbol of modernisation.
• 1935 — The innovative urban plan by architect Attilio Corrêa Lima is approved. The city acquires its unique face in the Art Deco style with its signature radial avenues and wide squares.
• 1937 — An official decree is issued transferring the state capital from the historic city of Goiás to the new, rapidly under-construction Goiania.
• 1942 — The city is officially "christened": a solemn inauguration ceremony takes place, known as the "Cultural Baptism" (Batismo Cultural), marking the completion of the main construction phase.
• 1961 — The Federal University of Goiás (UFG) is founded, securing Goiania's status as an important educational and scientific centre in central Brazil.
• 1975 — The "Serra Dourada" stadium opens, becoming not only the main sports arena of the region but also a significant architectural object of the city.
• 1987 — A tragic incident involving radioactive contamination with Cesium-137 occurs, becoming a serious test for the city and its residents and leading to a revision of safety standards on a global scale.
• 2003 — Goiania's unique architectural ensemble in the Art Deco style receives official recognition as a national historical and artistic heritage of Brazil.
• 2007 — The Oscar Niemeyer Cultural Centre opens, adding futuristic features to the city's architectural appearance and becoming a new hub of cultural life.

Modern Milestones: From Agribusiness to Cultural Phenomenon

The rapid development of Goiania did not stop at its foundation and architectural design. The city continues to transform dynamically, acquiring new roles and meanings that define its modern appearance. These milestones demonstrate how Goiania has turned from an administrative centre into a multifaceted metropolis known far beyond the state borders.

The Capital of Sertanejo Music

Starting in the 1980s, Goiania gradually gained the status of the unofficial capital of sertanejo — the most popular musical genre in Brazil, akin to country music. The city became a true incubator for stars of this genre. It was here that many famous performers and duos began their careers, and numerous recording studios, production centres, and concert venues turned music into an important branch of the urban economy. This cultural milestone made Goiania a point of attraction for talents and fans from all over the country.

Leading Regional Medical Hub

Over the past decades, Goiania has established itself as a key medical hub for the entire central-west region of Brazil. The city is distinguished by a high concentration of modern hospitals, specialised clinics, and highly qualified doctors. The significance of this stage is immense: residents not only from the state of Goiás but also from neighbouring regions come here for complex diagnostics and treatment, confirming the high level of development of the city's healthcare system and its importance for millions of people.

New Cultural and Urban Symbols

The opening of the Oscar Niemeyer Cultural Centre in 2007 was a landmark event that added futuristic features to the city's architectural landscape. This complex, with its bold forms, became a new attraction point for residents and tourists, as well as a main venue for major exhibitions, concerts, and festivals. In parallel, the city is actively developing its infrastructure, confirming its status as a "green capital" through the creation of new parks and public spaces, making it one of the most comfortable metropolises for living in Brazil.

The architectural appearance of Goiania is unique for Brazil and serves as a vivid example of 20th-century urban planning. Unlike old colonial cities, Goiania was founded "from scratch" in 1933 as the new, modern capital of the state of Goiás. This ambitious project defined its key architectural feature — the city became one of the world's largest centres of architecture in the Art Deco style.

The initial city plan, developed by architect Attilio Corrêa Lima, was inspired by "garden city" ideas and combined a radial-concentric layout with a rectangular street grid. The central part of the city was conceived as a unified ensemble, where administrative buildings, public spaces, and residential quarters adhered to strict geometry and Art Deco aesthetics. Today, this architectural complex is recognised as a national heritage of Brazil. Iconic buildings of this era include the Palácio das Esmeraldas (Governor's Residence), the Goiania Theatre, and the former Railway Station, whose facade is a textbook example of the style.

Since the 1960s, as the city grew rapidly, ideas of Modernism, characteristic of the entire country at that period, began to penetrate its architectural landscape. High-rise residential and office buildings appeared, changing the city's initial silhouette. Despite this, the historical centre has preserved its unique atmosphere. One of the symbols of the modernist phase became the Oscar Niemeyer Cultural Centre, which houses the Museum of Contemporary Art. Thus, the architectural development of Goiania reflects the transition from elegant and decorative Art Deco to functionalism and the bold forms of Modernism, making a walk through the city a true journey through the history of 20th-century architecture.

Iconic Figures in the History of Goiania

The history of Goiania is rich with the names of people whose contributions to politics, architecture, and culture have left an indelible mark on the city's development. From the founding fathers to stars of the national stage, these personalities shaped the unique appearance and spirit of the capital of Goiás state.

• Pedro Ludovico Teixeira (1891–1979) — Politician, doctor, and founder of Goiania. As the governor of the state of Goiás, he initiated the ambitious project to move the capital and build a new, modern city "from scratch". His main goal was to stimulate economic development and the settlement of Brazil's central territories.
• Attilio Corrêa Lima (1901–1943) — Architect and urban planner, author of the initial plan for Goiania. It was he who developed the innovative design of the city in the Art Deco style with its famous radial avenues and wide squares. Thanks to his vision, Goiania today possesses one of the world's largest architectural ensembles in this style.
• Iris Rezende Machado (1933–2021) — One of the most influential politicians in the history of Goiás. He repeatedly served as Mayor of Goiania and Governor of the state, and was also a minister at the federal level. His long political career is closely linked to the growth and modernisation of the city's infrastructure in the second half of the 20th and early 21st centuries.
• Siron Franco (born 1947) — World-renowned painter, sculptor, and draughtsman. Having spent most of his life in Goiania, he became one of the key voices of his generation in art. He gained particular fame for a series of works dedicated to the tragic incident involving radioactive contamination with Cesium-137 in 1987, which drew international attention to this issue.
• Leandro and Leonardo — A cult musical duo in the sertanejo genre. Although brothers Leandro (1961–1998) and Leonardo (born 1963) are from a neighbouring city, it was Goiania that became the centre of their dizzying career. Their success in the 1990s finally cemented Goiania's status as the unofficial capital of sertanejo music.
• Zezé Di Camargo & Luciano — One of the most successful and beloved musical duos in Brazil. Their path to fame, which began in Goiás and developed in Goiania, became a symbol of the cultural phenomenon of sertanejo music. The story of the brothers, depicted in the famous film "Two Sons of Francisco", embodies the dream and talent that brought fame to the region throughout the country.