Brazil offers many historical places of interest. Salvador de Bahia stands as an iconic example with churches, convents, and palaces which serve as testaments of its colonial past.
Ouro Preto was first constructed during the 1700s and is now recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site due to its intricate baroque architecture and unparalleled preservation.
Pelourinho
Pelourinho remains one of Brazil’s premier slave markets despite its unfortunate history; today its colonial architecture and cobblestone streets boasting brightly coloured buildings as well as caipirinha bars and Afro-Bahian souvenir stores offer visitors an intriguing glimpse of Brazilian colonial life. Now recognized by UNESCO, this area is now a tourist hot spot and was recently recognized as World Cultural Heritage Site.
Church of Our Lady of Rosary of Blacks is well worth visiting with its ornate interior and architectural details, built by a lay society comprised of former slaves. This structure serves as an iconic representation of Afro-Brazilian spirituality.
Other attractions include the Catedral Basilica and former Medical School Building formerly occupied by Jesuits; today this space houses the Memorial da Medicina, Arqueologia e Etnologia e Afro-Brasileiro museums.
Fernando de Mourinho
Brazilian history can be found throughout its unique historic locations. City centers, plantations grounds, refugee villages and refugee settlements all showcase immigrant and indigenous cultures which live on.
Visit Salvador de Bahia to explore Brazil’s African heritage at their first slave market, designated a UNESCO World Heritage site. Additionally, this area of the city contains many colorful churches, convents, and palaces built with brightly painted architectural styles.
The Inga Stones, located near the Inga River in northeast Brazil, contain symbols and glyphs which may have been produced by pre-Columbian indigenous inhabitants of this region. These images may allude to topics like astronomy, animals and fruits.
Bom Jesus do Congonhas
The Sanctuary of Bom Jesus do Congonhas is an elaborate Baroque complex featuring a church, grand outdoor staircase and chapels depicting the Stations of the Cross. Most notable among its features are twelve soapstone statues depicting Old Testament prophets by Antonio Francisco Lisboa (known as Aleijadinho) which adorn both its staircase and parapets – its most celebrated feature!
The UNESCO World Heritage Site designation recognizes both its religious and cultural significance, as well as architectural grandeur and sculptural brilliance. It continues to inspire pilgrims and visitors alike and stands as a timeless masterpiece that transcends time.
Feliciano Mendes built the church at the center of the Sanctuary with an Italian-influenced Rococo interior in 1757 as part of his vow after being saved from illness, while adding stairs and six chapels at some point later during 18th century.
Maracana Stadium
As futebol is one of the country’s primary religions, Brazil naturally boasts one of the world’s biggest stadiums: Maracana Stadium or Estadio Jornalistico Mario Filho as it’s officially called holds a special place in Brazilians hearts. Built to host the 1950 World Cup tournament and host nation for 50 years after that.
This enormous stadium was designed by a team of architects wishing to evoke modernism and gigantism in its design. It opened to great fanfare and hosted an unprecedented attendance record of 199,854 paying spectators who witnessed Brazil lose in the final against Uruguay.
Since then, this stadium has played host to multiple football matches and concerts; as well as being home to a well-known soccer temple such as Fluminense. Furthermore, it has served as the venue for some of the greatest music shows such as those by Madonna, Tina Turner, Paul McCartney and more!
Ouro Preto
Ouro Preto (Black Gold), located in eastern Brazil’s Serra do Espinhaco mountains and established during the 17th century due to rich veins of gold found there, is an attractive city that holds an important historical legacy. Thanks to ornate churches, sunny plazas and cobbled streets, Ouro Preto offers visitors an exquisite city experience and was also once an influential center of mining activity and Brazilian baroque art development.
Church-laden streets, bridges and fountains in Santiago provide an aesthetic blend of European and South American architecture. Visit the Inconfidencia Museum located in an elegant former palace on Tiradentes Plaza to learn about its history.
Ouro Preto was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1980, leading to an extensive program of restoration and preservation efforts. Yet managing cultural heritage sites still presents unique challenges; Ouro Preto stands as an example of this need for new approaches that meet contemporary demands.
