Igreja NS do Rosário dos Pretos
Minas Gerais
The half-built Igreja de NS do Rosário dos Pretos – started and financed by slaves but never finished – now stands as a memorial to the abolition of…
Must-see attractions in Brazil
Belo Horizonte
This former dance hall on Pampulha's lakeshore, designed by Oscar Niemeyer with grounds by landscape architect Burle Marx, now holds all types of…
Igreja da Ordem Terceira do Carmo
Bahia
The Igreja da Ordem Terceira do Carmo has a gilded baroque altar, paneled ceilings and azulejos (handmade tiles imported from Portugal), and dates from…
Santa Catarina
Once among the island’s finest beaches, Praia dos Ingleses has suffered from its popularity. It’s now crowded with high-rise hotels and overpriced…
Minas Gerais
Spanning three centuries, this museum's collection includes vestments, ex votos and hundreds of other historical liturgical objects from Tiradentes'…
Minas Gerais
Marked with a plaque, this 18th-century building is the spot where Gonzaga and the other Inconfidentes conspired to put an end to Portuguese rule in…
Lençóis
The lovely Prefeitura Municipal, built in 1860, was the mansion of Colonel César Sá – the Neoclassical details were reportedly added to please his wife.
The Amazon
Guajará-Mirim's main cathedral is oddly huge, with twin bell towers rising high above the stark flat street level. It's muscular rather than beautiful.
Bonito & Around
If you can’t tell a pacu from a piraputanga, wade through this makeshift aquarium of Pantanal peixes. A rainy day activity.
Minas Gerais
In a building that served as the public jail between 1737 and 1850, this museum has a small but impressive collection of art from the city’s churches.
Pernambuco
This colonial church built in the 18th century was closed in 2015 due to risk of collapse and – much to the chagrin of locals – has yet to reopen.
Lençóis
Honors the patron saint of miners – and was built by slaves. The church is open occasionally to visitors during festivals and other special events.
Espírito Santo
This 5km stretch of beach is punctuated by kiosks, restaurants, nightspots and midrange hotels. Don’t swim near the bridge – it’s polluted.
Igreja do Bom Jesus do Matozinhos
Minas Gerais
Dating to 1781, this church at the foot of town is adorned with frescoes and woodwork beautifully painted in shades of red, blue, white and pink.
The Amazon
This squat yellow church is one of the oldest structures in Boa Vista, beginning as a modest oratory in 1725, and renovated and expanded in 1917.
The Amazon
Rio Branco's main cathedral, built in 1959, has a single soaring bell tower and three long, spacious naves lined with 36 stained-glass windows.
Igreja NS do Rosário dos Homens Pretos de Olinda
Pernambuco
This church was built by an African brotherhood in the 17th century. Frescoes painted by slaves were revealed here during a recent restoration.
Porto Alegre
About 1km southeast of the cathedral lies Parque Farroupilha, the city’s largest park and home to a sprawling flea market on Sunday morning.
Faculdade de Medicina Building
Salvador
A Portuguese prince, upon arrival in Salvador in 1808, founded a school of surgery here that was later named the Bahia School of Medicine.
The Amazon
The soaring concave facade and gleaming white paint make this modern church hard to miss, especially as it faces Boa Vista's main plaza.
Museu Histórico Júlio de Castilhos
Porto Alegre
Near the Praça da Matriz is Museu Histórico Júlio de Castilhos, displaying gaúcho artifacts in a typical 19th-century home.
São Paulo
Displays the work of some of the city’s most cutting-edge contemporary artists, both well-established names and up-and-coming newbies.
Minas Gerais
Built in colonial style between 1930 and 1940 on the site of a much older church, Diamantina's cathedral dominates the historic center.
Porto Seguro
Marks the spot where the Portuguese explorer seized this stretch of coastline from native people in the early 16th century.
Brasília
Water cascades between the arches of the Palácio de Justicia into a koi fish pond. Visitors cannot access the interior.
Minas Gerais
This raw stone church, built from local quartzite, is a prime example of São Thomé's rustic traditional architecture.
Rio de Janeiro State
From park headquarters, a 500m trail descends to this natural pool in the Rio Campo Belo, a popular spot for swimming.
Rio de Janeiro
The archway leading into Travessa do Comércio was once part of an old viaduct running between two buildings.
Igreja de São Francisco de Assis
Minas Gerais
Dating to 1775, this church is typical of the Brazilian rococo style with its gilded interior ornamentation.
Centro & the Mainland
The center of town is the inviting Praça XV de Novembro, with its shady walks and 100-year-old fig tree.
Paraná
The oldest of the city’s colonial churches is Igreja de NS do Rosário, parts of which date to 1578.
Recife
A well-run cultural center in the historic center hosting rotating high-quality exhibitions and films.
Igreja NS do Rosário dos Pretos
Alagoas
The Igreja NS do Rosário dos Pretos is a beautiful cathedral uphill from the river built by slaves.
Espírito Santo
Capixabas like to walk and relax in the leafy Parque Moscoso, just west of the city center.
Brasília
A good park not far from the city center is the Parque da Cidade, which has kiosks to grab a snack.
Minas Gerais
This simple church was built in 1719 to honor the patron saint who was protector of the slaves.
French Vice-Consulate Building
Lençóis
At the 19th-century French vice-consulate building, diamond commerce was once negotiated.
Rio de Janeiro State
Founded in 1953, this is one of Brazil's largest and most highly regarded universities.
Brazil
This beautifully blue-tiled old house sits in front of the Iglesia NS do Carmo.
Brazil
An imposing twin-towered church, the Basílica NS das Neves dates to 1586.
