Brazilian architecture: from baroque to modernism

You begin this journey with the capital of the country and its modernist architecture. Enjoy these first days to explore the city centre designed by the famous Oscar Niemeyer. On the Eixo Monumental, we start with a panoramic view from the Torre de TV mezzanine before descending the avenue to the cathedral, through the Indian People Museum and the Mémorial JK, a cultural place in tribute to President Juscelino Kubitschek who launched the construction of the country's new capital.

Visit of the Museum of the Republic, offering temporary exhibitions of contemporary art. Further on, we arrive at the Esplanada dos Ministérios, where the various ministries on both sides of the avenue are grouped, and then at Praça dos Três Poderes, where you can find the Palacio do Planalto (the Presidency Palace), the Supreme Federal Court and the emblematic Congress.

Rio offers a wide variety of architectural examples, especially in its downtown area. You will visit the avenida Rio Branco and its haussmannian buildings, the open air market of the Saara, the Largo da Carioca and its Santo Antonio Convent, the metropolitan cathedral with the so-called "brutalist" architecture, and the Arcos da Lapa In the afternoon, you go up the bohemian quarter of Santa Teresa with the bondinhodans, surrounded by traditional houses, before returning to the newly restored Porto Maravilha area, of which the Museu do Amanhã and the Arte do Rio are the showcases.

Superb small colonial town. Stroll during the day in the middle of the colourful traditional houses of the historic centre, then, if you are tired, relax by the sea.

Rest by the sea.

Departure early in the morning to arrive at noon at Petrópolis, former imperial city and Minas Gerais baroque. Lunch and visit of the Imperial Museum on arrival. In the afternoon, a little road to Tiradentes, which is reached in the late afternoon. Small recreational walk in the centre and dinner in the central square, the Largo das Forras.

In the morning, visit of the old town of Tiradentes, the Matriz Santo Antonio, the São José fountain and the beautiful decoration stores. In the afternoon, a little train from Maria-Fumaça to São João del Rei, and visit of the historical centre. Dinner in Tiradentes, in a restaurant with typical Mineira cuisine.

Visit of Ouro Preto and its dozens of baroque churches. Dinner in the city, in one of its many mineiros gourmet restaurants.

From the baroque to the contemporary, go to the beautiful open-air museum of Inhotim, in the village of Brumadinho, 70 km south of Belo Horizonte. Beautiful green landscape and contemporary art make the place unique.

Visit of the modernist district of Pampulha, a sort of prelude to what Brasília will be.