SOUTHEAST BRAZIL - General Information

SÃO PAULO, CAPITAL OF ALL RACES - The world's third largest city, Sao Paulo is a historical testimony of prosperity. Founded in 1554, São Paulo was the starting point of the movement of development in Brazil, carried by explorers. In the fifteenth century with the apogee of the crop and the arrival of Italians, Spaniards, Russians, Armenians and Asians, São Paulo has developed at a high pace.

CAPITAL OF THE MERCOSUR - Inhabited by more than 12 million people, mixing Brazilians who migrated from all regions of Brazil, Sao Paulo is a multiracial city, which houses, in the neighborhood of Liberdade, the Japaneses, Chineses and Koreans. Like New York, it has an Italian neighborhood, Braz, and a Jewish neighborhood, Bom Retiro. It is also the Financial center of Brazil, and the capital of business tourism, conventions and conferences. And, with its modern international airport of Guarulhos it is the main entrance gate of MERCOSUR.

A WEB OF STREETS - With an area exceeding 150.000ha, the city offers many attractions: parks, gardens, leisure centers, museums, clubs, churches, restaurants, shopping malls. Start your visit from the geographical center of the capital, at Praça da Sé, where there is the Metropolitan Cathedral. Then go to the Basilica of St. Peter in St. Peter's Square, where the masses are accompanied by a Gregorian choir. Follow then to Bairro da Luz and visit the museum Sacro, at Igreja da Luz. Before proceeding, devote yourself to contemplate the architecture of the building from the railway station – Estação da Luz.

AROUCHE FLOWERS - Sao Paulo is full of enchantments. Find them at the Republic Square that takes tourists to florists, bars and restaurants that are open til dawn and it is a traditional meeting point for artists, intellectuals and lovers of the night. After a cultural tour through museums such as the Sao Paulo Art and Contemporary Art, visit the fashionable districts of Jardins, where the nightlife has plenty to offer with its cosmopolitan bars, restaurants and nightclubs.

OTHER WAYS - The great city requires some time. Spend there at least four days. Get to know the Ibirapuera Park and then the Butantan Institute. Follow then, to Liberdade, the Eastern district, a concentration of Japanese and Korean restaurants and shops. Next day, visit Cantareira, Horto Florestal an area of 174ha full of springs, lakes and the museum of the Forest, with the largest collection of wood from Latin America.

CULTURE - In Sao Paulo are some of the most important cultural centers of Brazil. The basic itinerary starts at the Memorial of Latin America, home to the Latin American Parliament. The city also houses one of the best zoos in the world with over 2000 animals. At the University City, is the USP-Universidade de São Paulo, a place with museums, parks and woods. Reserve time for the Botanical Garden, with its fabulous collection of 20.000 orchids.

RIO AT YOUR FEET - Conquer Rio de Janeiro on your first day in town. Hop on the train leaving from the station located in Cosme Velho, cross a stretch of the rain forest, landing on the Corcovado hill and up the stairs to the base of Christ the Redeemer monument. A statue with 38m high, illuminated at night. At 709 m high enjoy one of the most breathtaking scenery in the world. Be amazed by the sight of Sugarloaf mountain, the center of town, Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas, the beaches of the Zona Sul. Enjoy the design of the Marvelous City, the route of their neighborhoods. Then plunge into a hectic party, with no time to end.

ONE SWEET LANDSCAPE - By cable car from the station located at Praia Vermelha, go to the Sugar Loaf. At 394m tall, then it opens up the Bay of Guanabara, where are the neighborhoods of Botafogo and Flamengo. To the west there are the beaches of Copacabana, Leblon and lpanema, with the Gavea mountain on the background. Turn north and look at the bay framed by the Rio-Niteroi Bridge, which leads the visitor to the coastal region, known as Costa do Sol.

COPACABANA BEACH - Along the Avenida Atlantica in Copacabana, it is the world's most famous beach. On the sidewalk of Copacabana beach, paved with black and white stones, are the people with the most joyful spirit and hospitality of Brazil. Mingle with the "locals". Enjoy the sun and the sea. When it gets hot, take refuge in one of the kiosks and drink some coconut water. And get ready for lunch at one of the many restaurants located at seafront.

LOOK AT THIS BEAUTY - Immortalized by the song of Tom Jobim and Vinicius de Moraes, Garota de Ipanema, Ipanema is a beach internationally known. Appreciate the sunsetting at Arpoador or go for a walk at Lagoon Rodrigo de Freitas. In the posh neighbourhood of Ipanema the commercial life is intense, full of shops and boutiques.

THE SUNSETTING - Where it ends Ipanema, Leblon begins. Together, the two beaches are 3.5 km. Linked by a walkway full of kiosks, cycle and jogging lanes. On the background rises the hill Two Brothers, spectacular scenery to admire the setting Sun.

THE DISTANT SHORES - With 18 km long, Barra da Tijuca is the largest beach in Rio. Its green waters have a temperature a little cooler, and allow the practice of surfing. Choose the sidewalk with its kiosks. Heaven goes on towards Recreio dos Bandeirantes, Prainha and Grumari. Places where the sea is calmer and where small restaurants offer dishes based on seafood and fish.

SAMBA - Deep-rooted with African rhythms, and influences brought by slaves from Angola, the samba is the music symbol not just of Rio, but Brazil. And it claims, for the most popular party in the world - the Carnival - the parade of Samba Schools. There are several styles of samba. But to know it in its purest state, the ideal is to participate of the rehearsal of the schools. The most traditional are Mangueira, Salgueiro, Império Serrano, Mocidade, Portela, Beija-Flor. Ask at TurisRio about the programme.

TIJUCA FOREST - 20 km from the citycenter are located the National Forest and the Tijuca Forest, which comprise the largest urban forest in the world. With 100 km of narrow roads, covers 3300 hectares, and declared Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO. Preservation area of the Atlantic forest, populated by old trees such as jacaranda, monkeys, marmosets, and birds such as tanagers, thrushes and bem-te-vis. The reserve has lakes, caves, waterfalls and lookouts, as the Bureau of the Emperor, the Chinese Pavilion and the Belvedere in Santa Marta.

A ROYAL ESTATE - Quinta da Boa Vista, in the district of São Cristovao, is an urban retreat for those wishing to prolong the contact with nature in their gardens, lakes, sportcourts and playgrounds. Its main attraction, however, is the zoo, which has 2,500 species of animals, and the National Museum, built at the time of the Empire.

OLD RIO - Founded in the fourteenth century, in 1565, Rio was the Capital of the country for 197 years. Start your journey in the city center. Arcos da Lapa, the old Aqueduct Carioca dated 1723 and the Imperial Palace, where it was signed the Declaration of Independence of Brazil.

THE CITY CENTRE - Take your time here. On the subway Cinelândia at the beginning of Avenida Rio Branco, enjoy the buildings of the National Library, the Museum of Fine Arts and the Municipal Theatre, with its French architecture from the beginning of the century. Then go up Avenida Rio Branco into the heart of the town: a formidable crossing of small streets, where there are banks, offices and shops. Walk calmly. Enjoy a work of art, the statue of the Little Newspaper of Fritz. And when you get hungry, go to Colombo Patisserie,a traditional restaurant in the old Rio.

WALKING AROUND - Rio has all the modern means of transportation. But to surrender to the pleasures of walking. Some routes are fundamental.

ROUTE 1 - Your tour begins at Flamengo Park, which is closed to traffic. Beginning at Santos Dumont Square, in the center, the park ends in Botafogo. Built on the edge of Guanabara Bay, the largest water body in the world, with 381 square kilometers, the park is heavily wooded and has gardens, sports courts, jogging tracks, skating rink, museums and monuments.

ROUTE 2 - Venture into the neighborhoods that keep buildings from the last century. Starts in the neighborhood of Gloria, the square in front of the Outeiro. Walk towards Rua do Catete towards the museum of the Republic, at Catete Palace, residence of the presidents of Brazil until the capital was moved to Brasilia. Enjoy the works of art, and historical documents. Then proceed towards Largo do Machado. Have lunch at Lamas, traditional restaurant in Rio, on Rua Marques de Abrantes, 18. Also go to Laranjeiras until the end of Rua Cosme Velho.

ROUTE 3 - At the station located near the building of Petrobras, at Avenida Senador Dantas, in the center, jump on tram to Santa Teresa. Stop at the end of Rua Joaquim Murtinho. For over 50 years, Santa Teresa was a luxury villa. Today it is inhabited by artists and intellectuals, and its narrow streets rise up buildings and homes of varied architecture. Enjoy the leisurely pace of the neighborhood.

FLYING HIGH - For those lovers of strong emotions, head along the road of Canoas, from São Conrado, to Pedra da Gavea. It takes some physical conditioning to reach the top by a narrow path. But it is worth. The landscape is fascinating. Then venture out on a glider in company of an experienced pilot. Fly over the forest, the sea and land on the sands of Pepino beach. Unforgettable!

HORSE RACING - For those fond of horseracing, the destination is Gavea racetrack, where every first Sunday of August there is the most important event of the Brazilian turf: Brazil Grand Prix.

MUSEUMS - Cultural capital of Brazil, Rio has a lot of museums. We suggest visiting six of them: Chácara do Céu in Santa Teresa, the National Fine Arts in the city center, o Nacional at Quinta da Boa Vista, the Indian, in Botafogo, the Republic, in Catete, and National History in the citycenter.

CHURCHES - There are many churches, built in architectural styles from several periods. See at least a few: the church of the Monastery of St. Benedict and the church of San Francisco de Paula, in the center, the chapel of Nossa Sra da Gloria do Outeiro, in Gloria, the church of Nossa Sra da Candelaria, in the citycenter, and the chapel of Mayrink in Tijuca Forest.

Opened in June 1950, the largest football stadium in the world has, over time, all the glamour that turned into a postcard and a mandatory stop for those visiting the city.