Its sloping lanes with irregular cobblestones, its smart and coloured colonial houses and its austere convents flanked by their baroque churches with unbelievable wealth make Olinda get classified in the heritage of Unesco since 1982.

The former capital of Brazil, Salvador da Bahia, or simply Bahia, is today, the heart of afro-brazilian culture. In a décor of colonial houses and churches gilded with fine gold dating from the 17th century, Salvador de Bahia breathes of Africa.

A town founded by the French in 1612, São Luis is ironically one of the most beautiful jewels of Portuguese architecture in Brazil. In front, Alcântara is a sleepy town. In 1888, when slavery was abolished, following the exodus of their old ruined masters, slaves settled down in drifting luxury hotels.

A true museum town which rises over the break of the serra: in the horizons dotted with stone and barren land, Ouro Preto is a splendid complex with baroque style architecture.12 km. away, Mariana was founded in 1696, when the bandeirante Salvador Furtado discovered gold.