UNESCO recognized the Historic Centre of the Town of Goiás as a World Heritage Site on December 16, 2001. According to ICOMOS, the place stands out as a European-style town that was well adapted to the climate, geography and cultural life of South America. The harmony of the houses, the proportions and the building types show a clear evolution in local design through time. The urban layout also makes it possible to see its stylistic changes, from colonial houses to the 19th century eclectic style, creating a mix of historic periods in the same city. For UNESCO, the Historic Centre of Goiás, and also the 18th-century vernacular houses of Brazil´s Midwest, are important proof of colonial urbanization and also part of world architectural heritage.