Brasilia is the feminine name for Brazil. It was with this denomination that humanity came to know one of the greatest expressions of modern Latin American art reflected in the delicate lines and elegant buildings drawn by two great disciples of the acclaimed Le Corbusier. The architect Oscar Niemeyer and the urbanist Lucio Costa made the dream of ex-president Juscelino Kubitschek a reality. They were able to build the capital of the country of the future in three years (1957-1960). The city was not built solely for the desires of this statesman but also for many generations that were seeking a new capital for the nation.

Already in the 19th century the then minister of the Brazilian Emperor, José Bonifacio was expressing the need to change the location of the political headquarters of the empire. Later, a commission which was formed under the constitution of 1891 came to determine the exact geographic position. However, it was not until 1957 that machines and men arrived at the central plateau of Brazil to remove the dirt and clear immense areas of vegetation to make way for building the new national utopia.

Perhaps this is the true sense of this big white city that, from above, looks like the form of a colosal plane that seems to be taking off heading east. Sprawled out in front of Paranoá Lake, Brasilia houses all the political life and administration of the Brazilians. Automobiles come and go transporting ministers, counselors, senators, delegates, and high officials of national and international organizations. They are all shuttled around in a city that was not designed for pedestrians. Enormous distances and the so called "supercuadras" – big urban blocks – make it almost obligatory to use a vehicle in order to get around. For this reason, two immense public transport lines run through the main body of the city, the Eje Monumental (where the ministries, public monuments, and government buildings are located) and the Eje Rodoviario (where the commercial, residential, and business sectors are located).

It's anyone's guess how small or sleepy the fishing town of Búzios truly was when French starlet Brigitte Bardot stumbled onto its sandy beaches in 1964, but it's certain that in the years since the little town used the publicity to turn itself into Rio's premier beach resort. So phenomenal was the growth that at the height of the 1999 season, Búzios' mayor appeared live on Rio TV and begged people to stop coming. Clearly, no one paid him any mind: in the summer the town is packed with Brazilians on vacation, many Carioca celebrities own places here, and Argentineans continue to invade with a gusto not seen since the Falklands debacle. Despite the influx the town has managed to retain a good deal of the charm of its fishing village past.

Búzios (the town's full name is Armação de Búzios) sits on the tip of a long, beach-rich peninsula jutting out into the clear blue Atlantic. The sheer number of beaches close to town makes it easy to experience Brazilian beach culture firsthand. Geribá Beach is the place for surfing. Quiet and calm and very deep, Ferruda Beach is perfect for a lazy afternoon snorkel. Far from town are more isolated spots to steal a quiet moment with a special beach friend, while right in town on Ossos Beach you can sip a caipirinha at a beachside cafe and pretend for a moment you're young, rich, and beautiful. In this South America Saint-Tropez everyone else certainly is.

Finally, on top of serious inquisitions into beach culture there are more trivial pursuits such as diving, sailing, windsurfing, fine cuisine, and endless opportunities to shop.

The city of Curitiba is the capital of the state of Paraná. It is considered by Brazilians as a model city, characterised by the large number of parks in its centre.

Upon arrival, you will be impressed by the amazing parks and gardens that cover the city, making it ideal for sports, walks and strolls. The Passeio Público, the parks of Barigüi and Tingüi and the woods of Portugal and Alemão, are without a doubt the most popular, comprising of large artificial lakes , musical concerts , interesting monuments and restaurants serving delicious food .

Visitors can walk around its famous centre, Línea Piñón, and familiarise themselves with over 50 places that are of urban, cultural, political and historical importance, depicting many aspects of Paranaensic society.

The cultural life of Curitiba is one of the richest in the Southe region. Cinemas, theatres, museums, art galleries, cafes, libraries and cultural areas are abundant throughout its streets, parks and avenues. Of all these places, the renowned Guaira Theatre is the most impressive. With its 16,900 metres, it houses three halls of different styles as well as the fascinating Opera of Arema- a tubular structure of steel and glass which is an excellent example of the city's architecture.

To get a spectacular view of the city, it is best to climb up to the viewpoint of Telepar. This large antenna of the public telecommunications undertaking of the state has been transformed into one of the city's icons. From its height of 110 metres, it allows one to appreciate the vast green belt that surrounds the metropolitan zone.

On reaching the city of Florianópolis, the sensation one has is that of finding a small San Francisco at the shores of the Atlantic Ocean. Joined to the continent since the year 1926 by the Hercílio Luz bridge, in the style of the Golden Gate, this work of art dazzles the tourist with its steel structure of 819 meters and its cables hanging over the motorway.

Originally, the city was a village of fishermen from the Island of Azores. With time, Florianópolis has been transformed into a compulsory spot to acquaint oneself with the beautiful beaches all around it. Surf-lovers and deep-sea divers stay here for long periods of time enjoying its white sands and calm beaches in area like Praia do Mole, Joaquina, Santinho, Naufragados, Morro das Pedras and Campeche.

Florianópolis is rich in history and culture too. In the center of the city, on its insular side appear many buildings that talk of the evolution of this society. The public market - El Mercado Público , the Customs building dating back to 1875 and the Cathedral Metropolitana – constructed in 1773 – cannot be left out. Its museums are some of its other attractions, among which stand out the Anthropological Museum with indigenous objects belonging to the first settlers; the house of Victor Meirelles, a painter and sculptor; the Museum of History, in Baroque style (previously the headquarters of the Government); the Santa Catarina Museum of Art, with various modern Brazilian works of art and those of Eli Heilan, an exceptional painter of mythical creations.

The most famous beach of Fortaleza carries the name of a beautiful indian woman named Iracema, a mythical character created by the great writer José de Alencar. She suffered the misfortunes of an impossible love in the midst of the country's conquest. This beautiful romance is linked to the narration of O Guaraní, one of the most important works in Brazilian literature. This romance was immortalized by the opera of the distinguished composer Carlos Gomes and left a powerful legacy of literary influence on generations of Brazilian novelists.

The essay writer was born and lived In this resort-city and his remembrance is a reason of pride for all its inhabitants. The main square and the magnificent Theater in Noveau Art of Fortaleza carry his name and his prose lives in the songs of the traveling singers that gather to amuse the crowd. The rich folklore of this corner of the country may be appreciated in its handcrafts which, joining the night fairs and public markets offer objects ranging from leather, ceramics, chestnut marmalade, caju, cheese and colorful bottles to the characteristic hand made embroideries. The tourist must visit the Museo de Arte y Cultura Popular located in an old public jail which tells some of the northwest's main history, as well as its struggle to dominate this region.

The Dutch traveled around this area in the XVIIth century, as well as in Pernambuco. They left the Nuestra Señora da Assunção Fort as a witness of their presence (1649). The first urban center was built around this white fortress and the explosive growth of this city continues to this very day. The city's huge and elegant residential neighborhoods are spread out along 25 km of shore, transforming the "North Little Princess" in one of the favorite destinations for Brazilians to enjoy their vacations here.

The tourist will find beach after beach in this area and sunshine all year round. These are some of the letters of recommendation for the capital of the state of Ceará, which practically lives off of the sea. Some say the best lobster in Brazil is served here and it may be true. Countless restaurants, huts and bars on the beaches of Iracema, Meireles and Mucuripe offer crustaceans with spicy sauces and delicious caipiriñas.

Foz de Iguazú is one of the most visited cities in Brazil. Its proximity to the famous waterfalls of Iguazú– only 20 kilometres away and the national park have made tourism in the region grow rapidly in the last few years. Its easy access to neighbouring countries, Argentina and Paraguay, has supported a powerful commerce of national products and imports.

637 kilometres from Curitiba, the capital of the state of Paraná, Foz has one of the best tourist infrastructures and hotel trade in South Brazil . Hundreds of hotels and lodges are distributed around the city offering prices for all budgets. There are also good camping sites for those who prefer being close to the exuberant nature of this corner of Brazil.

Its urban centre is modern with different services to make it convenient for visitors to enjoy the attractions in this region. Its bars and discotheques are busy all year, this making night life another of its many attractions.

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lheus, located at the south of the state of Bahia, is a growing resort area with many unspoiled beaches spreading both to the north and south of the city. Ilheus is an important shipping center for the cacao industry.

Ilheus, and its municipalities of Comandatuba, Itacare and Canavieiras, is a true ecological and tropical paradise. Dozens of kilometers of nearly-deserted beaches and seemingly endless coconut groves share the coastline with a lush variety of vegetation from the native coastal rainforest to vast mangroves and stately cacao plantations, some of which have been used as setting for films and soap operas.

Manaus is a modern, growing city, dominating Brazil's largest frontier. Before the rubber boom of the 19th century, Manaus was a small, insignificant town. With rubber came rich and splendid architectural accomplishments like the Amazonas Theater (completed in 1896 and restored in 1929) with its neoclassic faade and art nouveau interior including paintings by Capranesi and De Angelis. The green, yellow, blue and red dome is made up of tiles of tropical decor. Today, Manaus is a meeting point for people from all over the world.

In this cosmopolitan city, sophisticated dressers mingle with the shabbier unemployed from the surrounding suburbs. Downtown, the Plaza de Mayo is the traditional focus of activity, and lately has been the scene of mass protests against the government's handling of the economic crisis. Nearby Avenida 9 de Julio is popularly known as the world's widest thoroughfare and is truly a pedestrian's nightmare. Avenida Santa Fe is the most fashionable shopping area.

Manaus is the ideal point of departure for visiting the rest of the Amazon region. Tour boats leave Manaus for day trips to the meeting of waters where the black waters of the Negro River meet the lighter waters of the Solimões River flowing side by side without mixing for several miles.

Visitors can also explore river banks and "igarapés", swim and canoe in placid lakes, or simply walk in the lush forest. The more adventurous may even choose to spend a night or two in the jungle in close contact with nature.

Ouro Preto was the capital of Minas Gerais from 1822 until 1897, when Belo Horizonte became the power. This doing permitted the whole historical centre of the city to remain intact, conserving much of its colonial heritage.

Besides the abundant history of the city, Ouro Preto also possesses beautiful natural sites such as the waterfall - Cascada das Andorinhas, situated in the north of the city and the Parque Estadual de Itacolomi, whose mountain of the same name serves as a landmark for the inhabitants and where the first gold is believed to have been found.

Don't miss out on a trip to the gold mines of Passagem - las Minas da Passagem, old mines dating back to 1719, where you can descend 120 metres and explore the old gold routes dug by more than 3000 slaves.

This wonderful city is an invitation to enjoy one of the most beautiful metropolises on the planet. No place in the world mixes with such harmony and beauty, the sea, the beach, the skies, the mountains, the jungle and cement. These elements are found side by side with the daily hopes and frustrations of a people who are unwilling to give up and who every year renew themselves with the rhythm of the music of the Escuelas de Samba (Samba Schools).

In this cosmopolitan city, sophisticated dressers mingle with the shabbier unemployed from the surrounding suburbs. Downtown, the Plaza de Mayo is the traditional focus of activity, and lately has been the scene of mass protests against the government's handling of the economic crisis. Nearby Avenida 9 de Julio is popularly known as the world's widest thoroughfare and is truly a pedestrian's nightmare. Avenida Santa Fe is the most fashionable shopping area.

The happy and optimistic spirit of the Cariocas is expressed in every corner of this great metropolis at the southern end of Brazil. Rio was the capital of the country for many years – until the creation of Brasilia in 1960 – and through this city have passed princes, kings, barons and emperors; every one adorning its historical downtown with theatres, palaces, plazas, fountains, cathedrals and elegant buildings belonging to certain periods. In the area around Rio Branco Avenue, some of its glamorous past can still be seen in the Paço Imperial, the São Bento Monastery, the City Theatre and the beautiful Outeiro da Gloria Chapel which is the church preferred by the old Brazilian monarchy.

This city would be nothing without its music. At the end of the day, bars, restaurants and nightclubs greet those looking for good beer or good music, such as music from Tom Jobin with lyrics from Vinicius de Moraes. Bossa-nova, pagode, gafieira, samba, batucada, forró, lambada, regaee, MPB and jazz are some of the most requested rhythms during the Carioca night. Unforgettable evenings along with the excellent hospitality of its people can end with a night time dip in the sea on the lit beaches of Copacabana.

The city of Salvador is the capital of the state of Bahia and was also Brazil's capital unt`il 1763. It is divided into two parts. The "Lower City" is at sea level and contains the old port and the commercial district where visitors will find a complete and varied assortment of Brazilian arts and crafts at the Modelo Market.

A familiar sight at the Modelo Market is the "baiana", usually an older woman dressed in the traditional white, pleated dresses of colonial Bahia who sells coconut sweets and spicy "vatapás", "acarajés" and "xinxins" from a tray that she carries to the market on her head.

The "Lower City" is also the best place to witness a demonstration of "capoeira", a martial art developed by African slaves in Brazil, originally as a form of combat and later as a type of dance and folklore tradition.

Practioners compete to the rhythm of the "berimbaus", a local percussion instrument made with a wire cord streched tight across a wooden bow.
The "Upper City" can be reached by stone steps, alleyways or the famous Lacerda Elevator. This part of the city contains the old government buildings, the residential districts, museums, churches and much of the newer architecture. Points of interest include a 16th-century cathedral (one of the city's many notable churches), two universities, and agricultural institutes. Salvador has a naval base.

São Paulo became officially a city in 1711 and experienced a boom in the late 19th century during the coffee cycle and the enormous plantations established in the area.

After 1881 with the end of slavery, waves of immigrants from Italy, Japan and other countries arrived in São Paulo to work on the plantations.
The City great expansion began in the 20th century with the industrialization, which brought even more immigrants like Arabs and Jews.

Today São Paulo is the largest city in South America and one of the largest in the world and like other large metropolitan areas has its share of traffic jams, pollution, poverty and noise.
It also offers a great number of options for tourism and entertainment.