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Photo copyright: Jeff
Sainsbury
This special tour to Brazil, a land of staggering beauty,
focuses on the unique gardens and public works of the late
Roberto Burle Marx, one of the great landscape architects of
the 20th century. Starting in Rio de Janeiro, one of the
world's great cities, we visit some of Burle Marx's best
public and private gardens, including his own magical estate
and studio near Rio and properties rarely open to visitors.
We also see fine examples of his work in the mountains
around Petropolis, in Belo Horizonte, and in Brasilia,
the nation's capital city and a Mecca for Modernist
architecture and design. In putting together
this unique tour we have worked closely with the Burle Marx
office in Rio de Janeiro. They have helped us gain unique
access to gardens seldom seen other than in photographs.
This tour thus represents a rare opportunity to see some
of Burle Marx's most exciting and renowned gardens.
Land Tour Price:
11 Nights -- $4775.00 (Two flights within Brazil are
included in the land price; international flights are not
included. Please check with our office before booking
flights)
Single supplement: $875.00
Meals included: all Breakfasts (B), 4 Lunches (L), 5
Dinners (D)
Limited to: 18 members.
Tour
Manager: Jeff Sainsbury
Travel Documents: American citizens need a
visa when traveling to Brazil. Please check with your
nearest Brazilian consulate or the Brazilian embassy in
Washington DC for further information.
ITINERARY
March
2 (Friday) --
Depart
Depart
on your overnight flight to Rio de Janeiro.
March 3 (Saturday) -- Arrive Rio de Janeiro and
Sugar Loaf
On
arrival in Rio de Janeiro, the 'Marvelous City,' we transfer
to our hotel in the city's smart Ipanema district. After
time to relax, we enjoy a cable car ride up Sugar Loaf
Mountain for panoramic views of the city. We return to the
hotel and meet this evening for a welcome dinner. (D)
March 4
(Sunday)
--
Sitio Burle Marx and Instituto Moreira Salles
This morning we head along the ocean highway to the former
house and gardens of Burle Marx in Barra de Guaratiba. Our tour of
the estate, which Burle Marx bought in 1949 to store his
large collection of plants, will include the magical
gardens, his art-filled, ranch-style house and studio, and a
chapel dating back to the 16th century. We stop for lunch
at a restaurant owned by personal friend of Burle Marx,
following which we visit the Instituto Moreira Salles
cultural center, a former private residence with a charming,
recently restored garden designed by Burle Marx in 1951.
Night in Rio de Janeiro. (B,L)
March
5 (Monday)
--
Tour of Burle Marx's Public
Gardens and Landscapes in Rio de Janeiro and a Private Garden
We spend
this morning touring the landscapes, parks, and public
spaces of Roberto Burle Marx, including the groundbreaking
Ministry of Education and Health building roof garden,
Flamengo Park, the Museum of Modern Art, and Copacabana
Promenade. We
then travel out to the edge of Tijuca Forest to visit an
exclusive private garden designed by Burle Marx in 1974.
Laid out around a delightful low-slung house in a clearing
in the forest, the lush garden features fine borders,
densely planted shrubs, a stream, and a natural swimming
pool.
Night in Rio de Janeiro. (B,L)
Photo copyright: Jeff
Sainsbury
March 6
(Tuesday) -- Free
in Rio de Janeiro
Today is set aside for free time for personal sightseeing or relaxing on the
famous Ipanema beach. Night in Rio de Janeiro. (B)
March 7
(Wednesday) -- Two Private Burle Marx
Gardens
After breakfast, we leave Rio de Janeiro and
journey into the mountains surrounding Petropolis, Brazil's
former imperial city, now a popular resort with a refreshing
climate and magnificent views. We visit two of Burle
Marx's most famous private gardens -- the first an exquisite terraced
garden carved out of a steep sloping site, the second
containing bold mass planting, winding paths, curvilinear
water features, and a magnificent valley setting. Our hotel this evening
is located in the mountains between Petropolis and
Terezopolis. (B,D)
March
8 (Thursday) --
A Private Burle Marx Garden and Travel to Areias
Before leaving the
Petropolis area, we visit another well-known Burle Marx
private garden,
a characteristically striking design laid out
around a stunning Oscar Niemeyer house. We then travel into neighboring Sao
Paolo state to be within striking distance of tomorrow's
garden, and check into our country hotel. (B,D)
March 9
(Friday) -- Private Estate with Burle Marx
Garden
This
morning we complete our journey to a remote private estate,
a former coffee plantation on the edge of the mountainous
Itatiaia National Park, where we see a memorable Burle
Marx water garden with cascades, pools, and bold hardscapes.
We'll enjoy lunch with the delightful owners, then return to the
hotel. (B,L,D)
March
10
(Saturday) --
Parque da Cidade
Roberto Burle Marx and Belo Horizonte
Following breakfast we drive to Sao Jose dos Campos for a
specially arranged visit to the
Parque
da Cidade Roberto Burle Marx, the former Olivo Gomes
Residence. The garden is a major
work in the Burle Marx opus, with sinuous pools
and sweeping perennial
beds of a single species
laid out around a Rino Levi-designed house. We continue to Sao Paulo International Airport
for our afternoon flight to Belo Horizonte. (B)
Photo copyright: Jeff
Sainsbury
March 11
(Sunday) --
INHOTIM
We enjoy an extended visit today to the world class INHOTIM
modern art installation. Designed in
part by Burle Marx, this private museum is a stunning
combination of art, architecture, and landscape, comprising
a complex of white buildings arranged around three
artificial lakes and embellished with exuberant and dramatic plant
compositions. Return to Belo Horizonte. (B,L)
March 12
(Monday) --
Mangabeiras Park, the Usiminas Building,
Pampulha, and Fly to Brasilia
We spend today visiting
sites in
Belo Horizonte associated with Burle Marx,
including the recently-restored Mangabeiras Park, the
Usiminas Building, and the incredible Modernist Pampulha
complex, designed in the1940s in conjunction with architect
Oscar Niemeyer. We then travel out to the airport for our
evening flight to Brasilia, Brazil's capital city known for
its Modernist architecture and design. Night in Brasilia.(B)
March 13 (Tuesday) --
Brasilia
Today we explore, in the company of a local expert
guide, the buildings, plazas, and public works of
Niemeyer and Burle Marx, including the magnificent Palacio
do Itamaraty, other showpiece ministry buildings, and the
Metropolitan Cathedral. We also visit the TV Tower for fine
views of this fascinating city, work on which started in
1957 and was completed in only three years. We return to the
hotel and later enjoy a farewell dinner. Night in Brasilia.
(B,D)
March
14 (Wednesday) --
Brasilia
This morning we visit more of Burle Marx's work in the
capital city before transferring to the airport for your flight home. (B)
Included in the
tour price:
-- 11 nights accommodation in first class hotels with
private bathroom
-- tour coach throughout with P.A. system and
air-conditioning
-- internal Brazilian flights: Sao Paulo to Belo Horizonte, Belo Horizonte
to Brasilia.
-- entry to all gardens and sites as per the itinerary
-- all breakfasts and other meals as indicated in the tour
itinerary
-- services of tour manager, usually Jeff Sainsbury, from
Rio de Janeiro Airport until departure of return flight
-- tips for hotel porters, bellmen, doormen, waiters at tour
meals, and sightseeing guides
-- arrival and departure transfers (certain restrictions
apply; please ask for details)
Not included in the tour price:
-- transatlantic airfare and airport taxes
-- excess baggage charges
-- personal expenditure such as room service, telephone
calls, drinks, and optional activities
-- meals other than those specified in the itinerary
-- tour manager and driver gratuities
-- travel insurance
-- any other items not specifically included |
