Notícias
Tourism
Brazilian cities prepare special attractions for Christmas
In Rio de Janeiro, the Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon is the main symbol of Christmas in the city - Photo: Michel Filho/Prefeitura do Rio
Brazil will have more than 50 major Christmas-related events in the next few days. Artistic parades, thematic decorations, concerts and giant trees offer attractions for tourists to visit the country during the holiday season.
In Brasilia, for example, several monuments will feature modern, innovative lighting. The Christmas City Design project is covering eight of the main sights of the city with mapped projections reminiscent of the art of sculptor Athos Bulcão. In addition to the traditional lighting of the Esplanade of Ministries, buildings such as the National Library, the National Theatre and the Itamaraty Palace have all received interactive 2D and 3D projected videos. The mapped projections last for 10 minutes and occur every half hour, always from 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.
The Christmas of Light project, held every year in the southern city of Gramado (RS), will gather more than 500 events in its 33rd edition. The lighting of Christmas lights is a daily attraction for tourists, followed by parades, musical and theatrical performances and cultural parades. The Christmas Dream event, in nearby Canela, completes the list of attractions of the most well-illuminated Christmas destination in Brazil.
Still in the South, in the state of Santa Catarina, parks, squares, monuments and avenues of capital Florianópolis are fit with the bright colours of Christmas. In Blumenau, the German Village is the highlight, with typical attractions of the German colonisation and the celebration of Christmas Magic.
In São Paulo, the options to celebrate Christmas go from the capital to the countryside. In the mountainous city of Campos do Jordão, special lighting and musical attractions are a hallmark of the destination. In the capital, the decorations in Paulista Avenue (the largest of the city), the Christmas tree at Ibirapuera Park and the decorated malls are among the most visited attractions.
The city of Itatiaia, in the countryside of the state of Rio de Janeiro, has a famous Santa's House in in the Penedo neighbourhood, the only Finnish colony in Brazil. In the state capital, the Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon is the main symbol of Christmas in the city.
In Natal ("Christmas"), capital of the north-eastern state of Rio Grande do Norte, tourists have a choice of enjoying the warm water beaches, walks along the dunes and night parties. In the city, which was born on Christmas day, one of the most visited destinations is the Mirassol square, with a tree more than 100 meters tall.