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By Donatas Dabravolskas – Wikimedia

10 Famous Icons and Landmarks to see in Brazil

Brazil is the largest country in South America, it occupies almost half the continent. The country stretches from the Southern Hemisphere and is made up of a beautiful tropical climate, vast stretches of rainforest filled with exotic plants and wildlife.

This country has beautiful sandy beaches and precious minerals as well. Gold that was mined from Brazil has been used to decorate churches in Portugal.

The Portuguese exported gold from Brazil when they colonized it. Portuguese is also widely spoken in Brazil. Not only did they influence the language but also the architecture of the churches and convents.

Being a cultural destination, Brazil has several tourist attractions that vary from dreamy beaches, thick tropical forests, exotic animals, fruits and the most popular, carnivals.

Here are the top 10 Icons and Landmarks to see in Brazil.

1. Cathedral of Brasilia

By Donatas Dabravolskas – Wikimedia

The Cathedral of Brasilia, also known as the Metropolitan Cathedral of our lady Aparecida, is one of the most amazing churches in the world. It is also an architectural icon of the country.

Architect Oscar Niemeyer designed this spectacular building in 1970. He included 16 different concrete columns in the construction. A part of the structure looks like hands raised to the heavens.

The church building has three bronze sculptures at the entrance that are about 3 metres tall. The church is well lit with natural light that floods in through the gaps between the concrete columns.

There is a pleasant surprise inside the church, a piece of linen cloth that was used to cover the body of Jesus Christ after the crucifixion. This particular piece of cloth attracts millions of tourists annually.

2. Botanical Garden of Curitiba

This botanical garden is located within the state of Parana in southern Brazil. It was opened in 1991 and its design is of French style-garden.

There is a greenhouse in the garden that has an art nouveau style. It is made of metal and glass. It is home to several special species of plants. Placed right at the entrance of the garden, this is the main attraction of the Botanical garden.

This garden has a botanic museum that showcases sculptures, videos, photographs, and publications. All these are found at the exhibition centre.

3. Check out Christ the Redeemer

By Chensiyuan – Wikimedia

This landmark cannot be missed when in Rio de Janeiro. This famous statue is 2,300 feet tall and stands on top of Corcovado mountain.

Standing at its feet, one gets the most amazing panoramic view of Guanabara Bay to the north, to Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas to the south.

It is not only the grandest statue in Brazil but also an important historical monument. It was built in 1931 and is one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.

To get to the top, one has to take a flight of stairs that are steep but the views along the way are breathtaking. Other than walking, one can take a tram or a taxi to the top.

4. Iguazu Falls

By Enaldo Valadares -Wikimedia

The Iguazu Falls are one of the most beautiful cascades you will see in Brazil. These beautiful waterfalls are found at the Iguazu River. It is at the intersection of Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina.

Millions of litres of water cascading down into the Iguazu River. It is 2.7 kilometres wide and has 275 separate waterfalls.

This makes it the widest and largest waterfall in the world. Its longest drop is 82 metres long. The falls was named one of the New Seven Wonders of the world.  

There are boardwalks and bridges that can get one close to the waterfall. The viewing tower allows one a vantage point of the waterfall.

5. Go to Lençóis Maranhenses National Park

Photo sourced from Wikimedia

This is one of the most scenic places to visit while in Brazil. Known as the desert lagoons found among the sandy dunes, it is best experienced between July and September.

It may look like a desert but it’s not. This natural wonder makes a visit to Lençóis Maranhenses National Park worth it. The water at this lagoon is clear, warm and one can a refreshing swim in it too.

The national park sits on 383,000 acres of vast land filled with discrete white sand dunes. During rainy seasons, the lagoons are filled with blue and green water creating a pristinely unique landscape.  

6. Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro

One of the most popular beaches in Rio de Janeiro. Found in downtown Rio, it is also the most fashionable street along Avenida Nossa Senhora de Copacabana.

The beach stretches for about 4 kilometres filled with white sand and breaking surf. A broad promenade with black and white mosaic designs separates the beach from the buildings.

A playground by the beach is usually frequented by sunbathers, swimmers, skaters and children. The streets are lined with restaurants, shops, cafés as well as quaint old buildings.

7. The Confluence of Rio Negro and Amazon River

By Portal da Copa – Wikimedia

This is another natural wonder that will amaze you. The meeting waters. Water from two rivers, River Solimões and the River Negro, meet but do not mix creating a spectacular view.

The Meeting of the Waters is a unique place in Brazil. That’s because here’s the confluence between the pale-brown Amazon and the dark Negro rivers.

it is caused by differences in temperature, speed and dissolved sediments in the water. These two rivers flow at different speeds and temperatures; one is colder than the other.

They flow together for miles before finally mixing. The best way to experience this is by taking a boat tour from Manaus and prepare to gaze in awe at this wonder of nature.

8. Selarón Steps

These steps have been featured in several films as well as in a pop culture music video by Snoop Dogg. They were built and designed by a Chilean artist, Jorge Selarón.

The steps are found in Rio de Janeiro. There are 215 steps designed with colourful mosaics as a tribute to the Brazilian people.

Selaron used to live in one of the houses along the stairs. He took it upon himself to renovate the stairs since they were damaged.

He used more than 2,000 tiles he collected; some were donated by well-wishers from over 60 countries around the world.  

It’s a popular place that people go to take photos.

9. Rio Carnival

By Fernando Frazão -Wikimedia

Rio Carnival is one of the must-visit festivals in the world. The carnival runs for six weeks and ends on Easter weekend every year. Millions of local and foreign tourists join the carnival whenever it happens.

It is one of the best places to experience Brazilian culture and mingle with the locals. There is a lot of dancing, singing, a parade and parties in every corner of the city.

During this season, the city is painted yellow and green. Samba parades are the highlights of the carnival.   

The biggest parade is held before Lent and this is the biggest in the world. This makes it one of the most exciting carnivals in the world.

4. Bonito Caves

Bonito is found in central-west Brazil. It has magical caves, mesmerizing waterfalls, and clear rivers are some of the natural tourist attractions in Bonito.

This is one of the most famous landmarks in Brazil. Bonito is a popular snorkelling location and home to several marine animals.

It is also home to the famous anaconda, found in river Sucuri. The best time to go is around winter when the anaconda has left for warmer places.