Baroque & Bohemian Brazil

Minas Gerais, Rio & Buzios

DAY 1 International flight to Belo Horizonte, Inhotim

Flight to Belo Horizonte via Sao Paulo. Morning arrival in the capital of Minas Gerais. Assistance with picking up your rental car and setting off for Inhotim (40 miles).
On the way - Sabara, a city dating from the gold rush. See the cobblestone street along the river, low houses with pink, blue, saffron walls, tiled roofs, gardens of bougainvilleas, and myriad churches with ochre or azure facades, all containing treasures such as bas-reliefs, votive offerings, earthenware and gold.
Overnight accommodation in the small town of Brumadinho, in a welcoming hotel located in the immediate vicinity of the Inhotim Cultural Centre.

DAY 2

DAY 3 Inhotim - Ouro Preto

Included in the itinerary - Inhotim, both the botanical garden and museum of contemporary art, which hosts large artistic projects. A true conservatory of rare tropical species, it brings together the largest collection of palm trees on the planet and, scattered in lush vegetation, the works of generations of artists.
Then it's off to Ouro Preto (65 miles or about 2 hours) through the hills of Minas Gerais, along the way passing through the cities of Itabirito, Cachoeira do Campo or Mariana, founded in the 17th century, which have many preserved Baroque buildings. On arrival in Ouro Preto, accommodation for two nights in a beautiful 18th century house, furnished with antique furniture.

DAY 4 Ouro Preto

Here, all that glitters is gold - the heritage of the 18th, when the city was the mining centre of the Portuguese Crown. Walk through its squares and steep streets, admiring its colourful houses.
Things to see and experience - The thirteen Baroque churches, witnesses of the city's splendid past - the Mineralogy Museum: a dizzying collection of precious stones, diamonds and coloured stones, rubies, sapphires, emeralds, aquamarine and topaz - the Casa da Moeda (mint) - the municipal theatre, established in 1770 and the oldest functioning theatre in Latin America: four floors, 350 seats, gilding everywhere. Don't leave Ouro Preto without sampling the cuisine, and particularly the typical 'feijao tropeiro', pork shank, chopped cabbage, eggs, onions, grilled cassava flour, and brown beans.

DAY 5 Ouro Preto - Tiradentes

Then off to Tiradentes via the Estrada Real, the Royal Route which, in the 18th century, made it possible to transport gold from Minas Gerais to the port at Paraty and to Rio de Janeiro, to the court of the Portuguese King.
On the way - The small colonial town of Congonhas do Campos and its UNESCO listed Basilica do Senhor Bom Jesus de Matosinhos - Sao Joao del Rei, with its numerous Baroque churches and colonial homes.
Spend two nights in an old 18th-century building in the historic centre of the city.

DAY 6 Tiradentes

An air of rebellion still clings to this city, once trampled by slaves and then by the abolitionist leader who bequeathed it his name. A lovely colonial city - probably the most romantic in the region - all white, nestled in a circle of hills. Churches and mansions bear witness to a magnificent past, where you can admire their facades and finely carved altars.
Must-see - The 'Chafariz' Saint Joseph, the Matriz de Santo Antonio, for its remarkable architecture, and the view of the city from its esplanade, the museum of Padre Toledo.

DAYS 7 & 8 Rio Tiradentes

Flight to Rio. Accommodation for three nights in the bohemian district of Santa Teresa. In an exuberant garden, a house where the 19th century has left its mark. The decor is cool and colourful - well served by Brazilian craftsmanship. At the window, Guanabara Bay, which shines in the sun. With this view, breakfast on the terrace is a opportunity that you simply can't ignore. Just below, a lovely swimming pool, perfect for relaxing in the evening. The spacious rooms overlook the garden.

DAY 9

DAYS 10 & 11 Rio - Buzios

Private transfer to the beautiful seaside resort of Buzios, 120 miles east in the state of Rio. Accommodation for five nights in a beautiful white house with blue shutters, glazed painted tile facades, in the historic centre of Buzios, a stone's throw from the church of Sant 'Ana and the beach. It looks a bit like Greece or Portugal but in the Tropics: Brazil, with a Mediterranean twist. In the spacious rooms, vintage furniture and the most comfortable bedding. The garden has two swimming pools and lush vegetation.

Days 12 TO 15