Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Rock spurs etched against a clouded sky in the Chapada Diamantina, Bahia
of
Santos
and
São Vicente
(see pp168-9)
retain fine
colonial buildings. Santos is
also famous for its soccer
club, Santos Futebol Clube
(see p169)
, for which Pelé
used to play.
quieter
Trancoso
(see p201)
.
Bahia's arid interior is broken
by the beautiful
Chapada
Diamantina
(see pp204-205)
.
SÃO PAULO CITY
• Dining & shopping in Jardins
• Art at Pinacoteca & MASP
• Niemeyer in Ibirapuera Park
SERGIPE, ALAGOAS &
PERNAMBUCO
The city's chic restaurants,
bars, and shops merit at least
two days. Jardins, a fashion-
able dining and shopping
district, lies close to the
museums and historical build-
ings in the center, which
include the state art gallery,
Pinacoteca do Estado
(see
pp140-41).
Close by, the
upscale Avenida Paulista fea-
tures the state gallery,
MASP
(see p143)
, which boasts the
finest collection of European
paintings in the Southern
Hemisphere. The vast
Parque
do Ibirapuera
(see pp146-7)
has several museums, many
of which have been designed
by Oscar Niemeyer.
BAHIA
• Thrilling Rio São Francisco
• Olinda's colonial elegance
• World-class diving in
Fernando de Noronha
• Afro-Brazilian Salvador
• Splendid beaches & resorts
• Scenic Chapada Diamantina
Four days are enough for
Sergipe and Alagoas, which
have many pretty beaches
lining the clear-blue
Rio São
Francisco
(see p213)
. Famous
for its rich music scene and
strong cultural identity,
Pernambuco needs five days.
One of Brazil's prettiest
colonial towns,
Olinda
(see
pp220-22)
is known for its
architecture and Carnaval.
Fernando de Noronha
(see
pp224-5)
, an hour's flight
offshore, is an island famous
for superb diving.
The cultural heart of African
Brazil, Bahia requires at least
a week to explore. Its capital
Salvador
(see pp184-95)
has
lavish Baroque churches and
colonial buildings, alongside
boutique diners serving the
distinctive African-influenced
cuisine.
Capoeira
(see p199)
is performed everywhere in
the state. Bahia's coast
stretches through glorious
beaches and little resorts,
such as the bustling
Porto
Seguro
(see p201)
and the
SÃO PAULO STATE
• Scenic beaches & rainforest
• Pretty offshore islands
• Fascinating soccer museum
in Santos
Allow up to five days for São
Paulo state, which retains
surprisingly large areas of
wilderness and has a beauti-
ful coastline, watched over
by forest-covered mountains.
The northern coast has the
finest beaches, particularly
around
Ilhabela
(see p165)
.
The southern coast protects
the expansive coastal forest
in
Estação Ecológica Juréia-
Itatins
(see p170)
. The cities
Boat floating on crystal-clear waters around Ilhabela, São Paulo state
