 The region was first settled in the early 18th century, but the city as it is known today was planned and constructed in the 1890s, to replace Ouro Preto as the capital of Minas Gerais.The city features a mixture of contemporary and classical buildings, and is home to several modern Brazilian architectural icons, most notably the Pampulha Complex.In planning the city, Aarão Reis and Francisco Bicalho sought inspiration in the urban planning of Washington, D.C.