Must-Sees When on Holiday in Brazil

Brazil is a very wonderful country to visit. Its rich culture, hospitable natives, impressive landmarks, among other attraction sites will provide you with very memorable experiences during your stay in the country. The following are the some of the must-see places worth visiting when having a Brazilian Holiday.

Ouro Preto

Ouro Preto is situated in the Serra do Espinahaco Mountains in the Minas Gerais state. It used to be a colonial mining town between the 17th and 18th centuries. Due to its beautiful Baroque architecture and cobblestone streets, it has been branded a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Ouro Preto is home to some of the best tourist destinations in Brazil: fantastic churches such as Capelo do Padre and São Francisco de Assis; historical mines such as Mina do Chico Rei, and respected museums including Museu da Inconfidência and Museu do Oratório.

Salvador da Bahia

Salvador Bahia, also referred to as Brazil’s capital of happiness, was founded in the early 1500s, making it one of the oldest cities in South America. More than 80% of this city’s population comprises of people of African descent that provide it with a variety of African cultural influences, especially in its artistry, dances, and cuisine. In fact, it is the place where the early Afro-Brazilian performers invented Capoeira, the Brazilian mixture of martial arts and dance. The city is also popular for its numerous exiting street parties, including the well-known Carnaval Party that usually hosts more than 2,000,000 happy party-goers from different parts of the world every year.

Iguaçu Falls

The Iguazú Falls are the most visually stunning waterfalls found in the Brazil-Argentina border. They are amongst the widest waterfalls in the world, pouring more than 11,000 cubic metres of water per second. They are divided into more than 240 individual waterfalls, separated by islands and terraces. Iguaçu Falls are close to the Brazilian Foz do Iguacu International Airport and Argentine Cataratas del Iguazú International Airport, and shared by two national parks: the Iguaçu National Park in Brazil, and Iguazú National Park in Argentina. Both parks are marked UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Brasilia

Brasilia is the capital city of Brazil. Built in the 20th century, the beautifully planned city has very remarkable buildings that have made it become a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city was designed by Oscar Niemeyer, the most creative Brazilian architect who ever lived. The best buildings that portray Niemeyer’s architectural wonders in Brasilia include the Palacio da Alvorada, Monummental Axis, Juscelion Kubitschek Bridge, and the Cathedral of Brasilia. Visitors usually get a chance to enjoy wakeboarding and windsurfing on the expansive Paranoa Lake which is one of the largest artificial lakes in Brazil.

Lapa

Lapa is a very wonderful neighbourhood found in Rio de Janeiro city in Brazil. It is not only famous for its vibrant nightlife, but also for its historical monuments and landmarks such as the Arco de Lapa which was constructed in the 1700s. Most of the buildings in Lapa have extraordinary 18th century architectural designs. Every Saturday, an exciting street party is held near Arcos de Lapa to entertain both the natives and tourists. Another marvellous tourist site in Lapa is the Metropolitan Cathedral of Rio that stands at amazing height of about 90 metres.

Paraty

Paraty is a peaceful seaside town in Rio de Janeiro that was established by Portuguese settlers toward the end of 1600s, during the Brazilian Gold Rush. Apart from having a white sandy beach, Paraty is also surrounded by spectacular nature reserves and parks including Serra do Mar State Park and expansive the Serra da Bocaina National Park.