Paraty Bay is dotted with around 60 islands that are covered in lush vegetation. The bay's coastline is often rugged and inaccessible but there are some heavenly beaches with crystalline waters (Saco do Mamanguá, Praia da Lula, Praia da Conceição, Pr..

Just next door to Parque Luz, one of São Paulo's few quiet spots, is the Pinacoteca do Estado. The space, which was admirably designed by Paulo Mendes da Rocha, does full justice to the paintings and sculptures on display, which include masterpieces ..

The Museu Afro-Brasil, located in an elegant, light-filled building, opened its doors in 2004. It contains 5 000 very diverse exhibits, which testify to the importance of African culture in Brazil, from the time of slavery to the present day. These r..

The astonishing curves of the Igreja São Francisco de Assis (1943) are to be found south of the Pampulha Lake. Apparently it was the sight of women lying on the beach that inspired its designer, Oscar Niemeyer, which presumably explains why the Churc..

The Praça Tiradentes, where the head of the martyred independence fighter of the same name was put on display, is an integral part of any visit to the city of Ouro Preto. Lining the large cobbled square are the former Governors Palace (Museu de Ciênc..

If you only see one church in Ouro Preto, make it the Igreja São Francisco de Assis, the masterpiece of Antônio Francisco Lisboa (Aleijadinho). Two round bell towers stand atop the church, lending a sense of harmony to the whole which stands as testa..

You would never guess from the relatively sober façade of the Igreja de N. S. do Pilar (18C) what treasures lie within its walls. Chandeliers and balconies covered in gold (several hundreds of kilogrammes of precious metal are said to have been neede..

Aleijadinho's final creation is a masterly work. The Igreja Matriz de Santo Antônio illustrates the Baroque virtuosity of the master (as if we needed reminding!). He designed the façade and the two bell towers which adorn the building. Before going i..

The imposing Igreja de São Francisco de Assis, with its white-washed walls, stands at the end of an avenue lined with royal palms. A showpiece of Baroque art in Minas Gerais, it was designed by Aleijadinho (1774), although his plans were modified. He..

The Iguaçu Falls, 18km east of Foz do Iguaçu, are indisputably one of the most beautiful wonders in the world. 275 roaring waterfalls surge into a canyon whose sides can reach a height of 80m and which has a breadth of nearly 4km! Most of the waterfa..

Oscar Niemeyer himself designed this remarkable museum, which opened in Curitiba in 2002. The prolific architect is most famous for his contribution to the construction of Brasília. He is also responsible for the Museum of Contemporary Art in Niterói..

Praia Grande is a huge deserted and untamed beach, where surfers come to put their skills to the test. One almost feels like Robinson Crusoe run aground in the middle of this huge beach.

A stopover on an island tends to tempt travellers to do nothing but relax on the beach. But staying on Ilha do Mel without walking between Brasília and Encantadas, via Praia Grande and Praia do Miguel, would be a wasted opportunity. The best option..

According to history, two ships transporting 250 colonists from the Azores were wrecked on Praia dos Náufragos in 1753. Only 77 of them are said to have survived. This beach is named after their tragic fate, and is one of the island's loveliest, and ..

The Lagoa da Conceição, a lagoon located east of Santa Catarina Island, is a real haven. There are mountains to the west, to the east a wide strip of sand separating the lagoon from the Atlantic, to the northwest small beaches hemmed in by hills, and..

Praia do Moçambique is a deserted beach, 7.5km long, and the largest on the island. The untamed ocean, with its impressive waves, reigns supreme here. There is nothing to spoil the landscape, not a single hotel, restaurant or bar on the horizon: all ..

Inaugurated in 1869, this market is a real institution. The smells of smoked meat and fish mingle with those of fruit and maté herb. All imaginable types of chimarrão , metal pots with a straw from which maté is drunk, can also be found here. But vi..

The Cidade Alta, or Upper Town, is the historical centre of Salvador. It has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1991, and its steep cobbled streets, churches, museums and colourful colonial houses have been completely renovated; there is a stron..

Wood panelling sculpted with a thousand motifs and heavily gilded… A Baroque profusion decorates the inside of this church, an early 18C masterpiece. The paintings on the ceiling, by José Joaquim da Rocha, as well as the sculpture of St Peter of Alca..

The Largo do Pelourinho, or Praça José de Alençar, is located in a street in Old Salvador. Its name comes from the pelourinho (pillory) that stood here during colonial times, and it was the place where slaves were punished before the masses. Today,..