Saudade in Belo Horizonte: History and Sports

Saudade is a neighborhood in Belo Horizonte with two distinct points of interest for planning a trip: Cemitério da Saudade and Praça da Saudade, also known as Praça Louis Braille. The former is associated with cemetery history, while the latter offers sports and recreation areas. Together, they provide a concrete framework for understanding Saudade thematically.

History of Cemitério da Saudade

Cemitério da Saudade is the second-oldest necropolis in Belo Horizonte. It was established in 1942 for city residents in need who wanted a permanent burial place but did not have access to Cemitério do Bonfim. The year of its founding provides a date for its establishment; its stated ranking places the cemetery among the city's necropolises.

A city announcement from 2019 put the site at 32,000 graves, four funeral chapels, and an area of 188,000 m². This area is equivalent to 18.8 hectares. Together, the three figures give an impression of the cemetery's scale at the time: number of graves, funeral chapels, and total area. The information dates from 2019 and may have changed.

Sports and recreation at Praça da Saudade

When Praça da Saudade was renovated in 2019, the Futebol Society field was fitted with artificial turf. In addition, three multi-purpose sports courts were refurbished, one of them covered; the gardens, recreation areas, and changing rooms were also refurbished. Compared with the cemetery, the square's design focuses on sports and recreation areas. The work described took place in 2019. If a particular facility is important to you, check its current condition before visiting.

Classes at Polo Esportivo e de Lazer

The Polo Esportivo e de Lazer at Praça Louis Braille adds classes to the area's sporting profile. The city website, updated on June 25, 2026, lists capacity for 560 class places, with sessions in the morning and afternoon. For children and young people aged 6 to 17, the listed activities are basketball, boxing, capoeira, futsal, Futebol Society, rhythmic gymnastics, basic sports training, and volleyball. The remaining class places are reserved for adults, who are offered boxing, dance, futsal, and functional training.

Boxing and futsal are offered to both age groups; the other listed activities differ. The capacity indicates the scale of the program, while the morning and afternoon sessions indicate its schedule. This makes it possible to understand the program by class type and age group. Capacity, classes, and times may change. If a particular class is important to your trip planning, check the current schedule in advance.

Putting Saudade in context when searching for hotels

When choosing a hotel in Belo Horizonte, Saudade can serve as a thematic point of reference: the cemetery's history and the classes and sports facilities at the square appeal to different interests. If you would like to connect your stay with one of these themes, you can include the neighborhood in your search area and then compare specific hotels based on their respective listings.

Discover more destinations: Belo Horizonte, Caetanópolis, Araponga, Simão Pereira, Melado, Taparuba, Machado, Caparaó

For the broader travel overview: Minas Gerais.