Sights in Brazil
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Catedral Metropolitana
Catedral Metropolitana sits grandly at the high end of the Praça XV de Novembro, covered by scaffolding at the time of research. The best-preserved colonial church, Igreja de NS do Rosário, sits picturesquely atop the steps at Rua Trajano.
reviewed
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B
Museu de Artes e Ofícios
The new Museu de Artes e Ofícios, in Belo’s historic train station, houses a wide-ranging collection of objects used in the daily lives of Mineiros past and present. There are interpretive cards in English adjacent to each exhibit.
reviewed
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Casa de Juscelino Kubitschek
Casa de Juscelino Kubitschek, childhood home of the former president, reflects his simple upbringing as the grandson of poor Czech immigrants. Kubitschek himself believed that his early life in Diamantina influenced him greatly.
reviewed
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C
Ponte Rio-Niterói
The Ponte (bridge) Rio-Niterói (Ponte Pres Costa E Silva) offers spectacular views of Baía de Guanabara. It is 15.5km long, 60m high and 26.6m wide, with two three-lane roads. There's a tollbooth 3km from the Niterói city center.
reviewed
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D
Igreja da Ordem Terceira de São Francisco
The most important building to visit in the city center is the Igreja da Ordem Terceira de São Francisco, a church dating from 1697 with a Capela Dourada (Golden Chapel) that is one of the finest examples of Brazilian baroque architecture.
reviewed
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E
Palácio Rio Branco
Overlooking the plaza, the impressive Palácio Rio Branco was reconstructed in 1919 after being partially ruined in a bombing and subsequent fire. The original 1549 structure housed the offices of Tomé de Souza, Brazil's first governor general.
reviewed
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F
Bovespa
Bovespa is Latin America’s largest stock exchange. There is no longer a live trading floor to visit, but the beautiful main lobby serves as a de facto museum, with small but often excellent temporary exhibits of Brazilian art.
reviewed
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G
Palácio dos Leões
The Palácio dos Leões is the governor’s palace, built in the 18th century on the site of the original French fort; the quick guided tour reveals a wealth of valuable antique furnishings and art, mostly French from later eras.
reviewed
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H
Quinta da Boa Vista
Quinta da Boa Vista was the residence of the Portuguese imperial family until the Republic was proclaimed. Today, it's a large and busy park with gardens and lakes. At weekends it's crowded with football games and families from the Zona Norte. The former imperial mansion houses the Museu Nacional and Museu da Fauna. The Jardim Zoológico, Rio's zoo, is 200m away.
reviewed
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I
Museu Nacional
A spherical half-dome by architect Oscar Niemeyer, the inside features a discreet mezzanine mostly held up by columns suspended from the roof. A signature curved ramp juts out from its base and runs around the outside like a ring of Saturn.
reviewed
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Project Jibóia
Project Jibóia represents a one-man crusade to change the world’s opinion of snakes. Visiting here represents an entertaining hour or so, complete with boa constrictors that you nearly swap spit with by the end of the night.
reviewed
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K
Terreiro de Jesus
A colorful intersection of vendors, tourists, capoeiristas and colorful locals, the Terreiro de Jesus is a historic site of religious celebrations, and is ringed by four churches, as well as the 19th-century Faculdade de Medicina Building.
reviewed
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L
Museu do Padre Toledo
This museum is dedicated to another hero of the Inconfidência, Padre Toledo, who lived in this 18-room house where the Inconfidêntes first met. It features regional antiques and documents from the 18th century.
reviewed
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Feira Central
A great market worth a stroll is the Feira Central, a massive open-air food and shopping court lined with Japanese sobá-noodle joints and other food and merchandise stalls. It’s packed with revelers on weekends.
reviewed
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Catedral de NS do Pilar
Begun in 1721, the Catedral de NS do Pilar has exuberant gold altars and fine Portuguese tiles. On Wednesday, Thursday and Friday the Lira Sanjoanense, or Coalhada (all-white) orchestra and choir, accompany the 7pm Mass.
reviewed
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Museu Casa da Hera
Museu Casa da Hera, former home of the aristocratic heiress Eufrásia Teixeira Leite, displays antique hand-carved furniture and other colonial relics. It was closed indefinitely for restoration at the time of research.
reviewed
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Museu do Diamante
Between Praça JK and the cathedral is the house of Padre Rolim, one of the Inconfidêntes. It’s now the Museu do Diamante, exhibiting religious art, old photos, furniture, weapons, and other relics of the diamond days.
reviewed
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Igreja São Batista
While the bulk of the old town was built in the 19th century, there are a few buildings that date to the 16th century, such as the Igreja São Batista . Unfortunately, many buildings in the town are in varying states of disrepair.
reviewed
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Igreja NS do Rosário dos Pretos
Igreja NS do Rosário dos Pretos known as the Igreja dos Escravos (Slaves' Church), was built in 1828 by slaves, who were not allowed to use the Whites' Church. Construction was reportedly never completed, and it remains roofless.
reviewed
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M
Museu Aeroespacial
This museum maintains exhibitions on Santos Dumont (the Brazilian father of aviation), Air Marshal Eduardo Gomes, the history of Brazilian airmail and the role of Brazil's air force in WWII. There are lots of old planes, motors and flying instruments. Highlights are replicas of Santos Dumont's planes, the 14 Bis and the Demoiselle. You can also arrange guided visits if you call at least three days in advance.
reviewed
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Museu de Ciência e Técnica da Escola de Minas
The Museu de Ciência e Técnica da Escola de Minas, in the old governor’s palace north of Praça Tiradentes, features dazzling gemstones from around the world. There’s also an astronomical observatory.
reviewed
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Museu de Arte Sacra
In a building that served as the public jail between 1737 and 1850, the Museu de Arte Sacra reopened after a 12-year renovation in March 2010. It has a small but impressive collection of art from the city’s churches.
reviewed
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O
Boa Viagem
The only beach worth visiting in Recife is at Boa Viagem. It's a busy urban beach, packed on weekends and a good place to watch or play beach sports, but very few people enter the water, which is unclean and subject to shark attacks.
reviewed
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P
Estação Júlio Prestes
A short walk west of Estação da Luz is this large and grand train station in turn-of-the-century Beaux Arts style, though only completed in the 1930s. Part of the station is still a stop on the suburban train system.
reviewed
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Q
Memorial Chico Science
This new memorial highlights the work of former Nação Zumbi singer Chico Science, a revered musician and founder of the mangue beat cultural movement who died tragically in a car accident in Recife in 1997.
reviewed