This park and square serves mostly as a point of reference close to some major attractions and…read morepoints of interest, including the Mercado Central. It is not a great place to hang out as it isn't particularly beautiful. It is safe during the day (lots of pedestrians come through on weekdays) but I'd avoid it after dark. The praça sits at the confluence of 4 major avenues, and is surrounded by a massive roundabout. Worth noting is that most buses avoid the roundabout altogether; they use the first square block to get around the praça. The center of the square, apparently built in French style and named after a former governor of MG, has some grass, flowerbeds, and a few shady trees. There's a fountain in the center that looks quite impressive; it is occasionally used by the 'local residents' to take a dip (or to wash laundry).

This square has been thoroughly renovated in the second half of 2015 (or so I've been told) and the…read moreresults are excellent. There are two great play areas for kids with swings, climbing objects, etc. Both areas have the nice soft base material where a fall won't hurt. The rest of the square / park has: - a workout area (sadly a couple of the features are already broken, but maybe they'll get repaired?); - a fountain area flush with the surface that's a great play area on hot days; - lots of smooth pavers that are great for skateboarding and bicycling; - many shaded benches great for picnics or to cozy up with your love; and - a good surrounding sidewalk for walks and runs. At night I've seen police keeping an eye out so it should be safe too. You can buy a snack or cold drink from one of the street vendors. Definitely one of the best parks in BH city.

We love this little city forest and museum! Been a handful of times since I discovered it two…read moremonths ago. Great for making small and longer walks in relative solitude, with a good chance to spot wildlife. You'll run into the occasional school class and family but it's very quiet compared to other parks. The exhibits include natural history (eg dinosaurs, mineralogy), some arts, biology (the human body exhibition is nice although the interactive portions were non-functional when we visited), and medicinal and other plants. There is a cafeteria and organized walks and other activities during school holidays. Entry is R10 for adults. There is ample parking for cars. Also easily accessible by public transport; it is about 10 minutes walk from the Santa Ines metro station.