Architectural Trip to Brazil

1-9 December 2023 – 9-day Architectural Journey

Travel Programme (download)

This “Architectural Journey to Brazil” – is organized around 3 major Brazilian cities: São Paulo, Brasília and Rio de Janeiro, where you can appreciate the diversity of this unique country.

São Paulo is a vibrant metropolis with a multitude of galleries, museums and cultural centers, as well as an active urban culture and interesting architecture, being the origin of the Paulista school. Lina Bo Bardi, Vilanova Artigas and Oscar Niemeyer are some of the architects who have left an important architectural legacy to the city.

Brasília is the state capital and seat of the federal government, and the urban planning of its Monumental Axis, with its characteristic bird-shaped plan defined by Lucio Costa, where most of the monuments and government buildings are located, is a landmark of mid-20th century modern urbanism.

Several of Niemeyer’s major works are located in the city, such as the Palace of Congress, the Planalto Palace, the Cultural Complex of the Republic and the Cathedral of Brasília.

Rio de Janeiro, not by chance called La Cidade Maravilhosa, stands out for its privileged landscape, its beaches, its unique character and its architecture. In this field, buildings such as the MAC in Niteroi, the landscape proposals of Burle Marx, the 2016 Olympic works, as well as several interesting examples of contemporary architecture built in recent years stand out.

In short, this trip represents a unique opportunity to delve into this fascinating country and get to know its culture and architecture.

DAY 01- Friday 01 December – SÃO PAULO

Arrival of international flight in the morning. Transfer to the hotel on your own. Optional transfer to the hotel.

Check in at the hotel.

Departure to the Historical Center. Lunch included.

In the afternoon, architectural tour of the historic center of São Paulo: Historical Center, Plaza da Sé. São Paulo Metropolitan Cathedral, São Paulo Capital 

Copan Building, São Paulo.

Cultural Center (CCBB) (interior visit), Edifício Altino Arantes, also popularly known as the Banespa Tower, Copan Building, designed by Oscar Niemeyer (interior guided visit), Italia building, SESC 24 de Maio, Praça da República, panoramic visit.

Dinner at leisure in São Paulo. Overnight at the Slaviero Downtown Hotel or similar.

DAY 02- Saturday 02 December – SÃO PAULO

Breakfast at the hotel. Private transportation available all day.

São Paulo City.

Morning visits: Casa de Vidro (Lina Bo Bardi), SESC Pompeia (Lina Bo Bardi), where we will visit the common areas; Memorial da América Latina (Oscar Niemeyer); Espaço Cultural Porto Seguro (Miguel Muralha and Yuri Vital); Hotel Unique (Ruy Ohtake); Escola Panamericana de Arte Goenlândia (Zanettini). Visit to FAU-USP, Faculdade de Arquitetura e Urbanismo, de Vilanova Artigas (visit to be confirmed).

Free time for lunch.

In the afternoon walk through the bohemian neighborhood of Vila Madalena, passing by Beco do Batman, an area known for its graffiti, observing some recent housing buildings of great interest, such as the buildings Simpatía, Box, or Pop+, or Fidalga 772. We will visit the Institute Tomie Ohtake, as well as some projects of the famous architect Marcio Kogan, such as the housing buildings, Pierino and Vertical Itaim.

Dinner at leisure in São Paulo. Overnight at the Slaviero Downtown Hotel or similar.

DAY 03- Sunday 03 December – SÃO PAULO

Breakfast at the hotel.

Architectural tour to Avenida Paulista and surroundings, considered the new center of the city.

Av. Paulista, Bela Vista, São Paulo.

Architectural visits: new Instituto Moreira Salles (IMS) Paulista -Andrade Morettin Arquitetos, SESC Paulista, Centro Cultural FIESP Ruth Cardoso-Paulo Mendes da Rocha and garden designed by Burle Marx, MASP (Museu de Arte de São Paulo)-Lina Bo Bardi, Centro Cultural Itaú reform by Roberto Loeb, and other unique buildings downtown. We will also get to know the landscaping of Burle Marx in a visit to the Trianon Park. Picnic in the park.

MASP, Museé d'Arte de São Paulo.

In the afternoon walk through the famous Ibirapuera Park where we will visit the MAM, Museu Afrobrasileiro, Niemeyer Auditorium, OCA and the Biennial Pavilion.

Dinner at leisure in São Paulo. Overnight at the Slaviero Downtown Hotel or similar.

DAY 04- Monday 04 December – SÃO PAULO-BRASÍLIA

Breakfast at the hotel and check out. Transfer by private coach to the airport to take the direct flight to Brasília. Arrival in the capital of Brazil and transfer by private coach to the hotel. Check in.

Rest and free time for lunch (not included). Meeting with the guide at the hotel lobby. Tour to know the area of the Monumental Axis of Brasília.

 Honestino Guimarães National Museum, Brasília.

Explanations about Lucio Costa’s Pilot Plan, one of the most characteristic examples of modern urbanism of the mid-20th century.

Dinner at leisure in Brasília and overnight at the Brasília Palace, by Oscar Niemeyer or similar.

DAY 05- Tuesday 05 December – BRASILIA

Breakfast at the hotel. Architectural tour of the Monumental Axis visiting, within the possible and authorized, different public and governmental buildings designed by Oscar Niemeyer in Praça dos Três Poderes, Esplanada dos Ministérios, Congress, Alvorada Palace (interior visits to be confirmed).

Esplanada dos Ministérios, Monumental Axis, Brasilia. 

Visit to the Cathedral, National Museum, TV Tower, among others. Free time for lunch. In the afternoon, tour of the Superquadras and the University campus. In the urban model of the Superquadras, the residential sector unit characteristic of the city of Brasília, four superquadras are grouped together to form a neighborhood unit. Visit of some interesting buildings of the UnB (University of Brasília), such as the library.

Dinner at leisure in Brasília and overnight at the Brasília Palace, or similar.

DAY 06- Wednesday 06 December – BRASÍLIA – RIO DE JANEIRO

Breakfast at the hotel and check out. Transfer by private coach to Brasília airport and early flight to Rio de Janeiro. Transfer and check in.

Free time for lunch and departure for an architectural tour of the city center and Copacabana beach.

Copacabana beach and Rio de Janeiro.

Visit of Porto Maravilha, Museu do Amanhã and downtown. Free time to stroll or go to the beach.

Dinner and free evening in Rio de Janeiro, hotel Palace Copacabana or similar.

DAY 07- Thursday 07 December – RIO DE JANEIRO

Breakfast at the hotel. Meeting with the guide at the hotel lobby and departure to Corcovado.

Santa Teresa, Rio de Janeiro.

With 710 meters high and lush vegetation, which is part of the Tijuca National Park, the mountain dominates the entire city.  At the top is the colossal statue of Cristo Redentor, symbol of Rio de Janeiro and Brazil. Visit of the Igreja São Bento. Free time for lunch.

Musée d’art contemporain, Rio de Janeiro.

Afternoon: We will visit the Museum of Contemporary Art located in the city of Niterói and designed by Oscar Niemeyer (interior visit).

Dinner and overnight in Rio de Janeiro, Palace Copacabana hotel or similar.

DAY 08- Friday 8 December – RIO DE JANEIRO

Breakfast at the hotel and meeting with the guide.

Architectural tour of the Barra da Tijuca area and the Olympic area.

Barra, as it is popularly known, is where most of the venues for the 2016 Olympic Games were built.

Rio de Janeiro, city.

Visits to the Cidade da Música – The City of Arts. Cultural complex located in Palm Clover, Barra da Tijuca. The project was drafted by Christian de Portzamparc.

Lunch and free afternoon.

Farewell dinner (included). Night in Rio de Janeiro.

DAY 09- Saturday 9 December -RIO DE JANEIRO – RETURN FLIGHT

Breakfast at the hotel and check out. Walk to discover different projects of public space and parks by the artist and landscape designer Burle Marx. Lunch and free time.

Copacabana and Rio de Janeiro cityscape.

End of the trip, to go to the airport to take your intercontinental flights (transfer and flight not included).

Flight from Rio de Janeiro.

DAY 10 – Sunday 10 December – ARRIVAL AT DESTINATION

Return flight to original destination.

IGUAÇÚ FALLS EXTENSION – BR/AR – From 9 to 11 December

Iguaçú falls, Brasil-Argentina.

Download Extension Travel Programme

Day 9 Saturday 9 December – Rio de Janeiro – Foz do Iguaçu

Breakfast at the hotel and check-out. Morning transfer by private coach to the airport and flight to Foz do Iguaçu.

Transfer to the hotel and free time to visit Foz do Iguaçu.

Dinner and show at Churrascaria Rafain (or equivalent), return to the hotel and accommodation.

Day 10 Sunday 10 December – Foz do Iguaçu – Waterfalls

Breakfast at your hotel. Transfer and visit to the falls. Lunch included.

Day 11. Monday 11 December – Foz – São Paulo and return flights to Europe

Breakfast at the hotel and check-out.

Transfer by private coach to the airport, flight to São Paulo arriving at 11:30h and flight to Europe.

* The programmed activities or architectural visits may vary for reasons beyond the control of Artchitectours.