AFRO HISTORIC DOWNTOWN RIO: A DECOLONIAL PERSPECTIVE

Afro Historic Downtown Rio invites you to transform the way you understand Rio de Janeiro.

Moving beyond traditional colonial narratives, this experience presents iconic landmarks while highlighting the contributions, experiences, and legacies of Afro-descendant and Indigenous peoples whose histories have long been overlooked or marginalized. These are unique stories and remarkable individuals who played a fundamental role in shaping Rio de Janeiro and Brazilian culture.

Passing through landmarks such as São Bento Monastery, Ouvidor Street, Praça XV, and Cinelândia, this route reveals a city deeply marked by the presence of Indigenous peoples, Africans and their descendants, as well as European immigrants. It explores the resistance and resilience of these communities through popular uprisings, abolitionist movements, cultural expressions, and ethnic influences that have shaped Rio’s architecture, music, spirituality, and identity.

This experience offers an opportunity to connect past, present, and future through an inclusive, immersive, and thought-provoking perspective on one of the world's most fascinating cities.

Discover the origins of Rio de Janeiro and the rich social, racial, political, and historical diversity that shaped the city.

Duration: 3:30 hours

Schedule: 09:00 AM

Availability: Everyday

HIGHLIGHTS

• Decolonial Narrative: Reimagine Rio beyond traditional tourism narratives.

• Histories of Resistance: Explore popular revolts, abolitionist struggles, and cultural movements.

• Hidden Stories Revealed: Learn about the contributions and leadership of Afro-descendant and Indigenous peoples.

• Unique Black Heritage Landmarks: Including the monument dedicated to João Cândido, leader of the Revolt of the Lash.

• Educational and Cultural Experience: Connect history, memory, identity, and contemporary Rio de Janeiro.

Sites included in the tour:

• São Bento Monastery – One of Rio de Janeiro’s oldest and most important colonial landmarks, renowned for its Baroque architecture and historical significance.

• Casa França-Brasil – An iconic neoclassical building designed by Grandjean de Montigny, now dedicated to cultural exhibitions and artistic events.

• Candelária Church – One of Rio’s most recognizable churches, reflecting centuries of religious, social, and urban history.

• Arco do Teles – A historic passageway in Praça XV that preserves the atmosphere of colonial Rio and its commercial past.

• João Cândido Monument – A tribute to the leader of the Revolt of the Lash (Revolta da Chibata), highlighting the struggle for dignity and rights among Afro-Brazilian sailors.

• Tiradentes Palace – Former seat of Brazil’s National Congress and an important symbol of the country’s political history.

• Praça XV – One of Rio de Janeiro’s most historic public squares, connected to the colonial period, the monarchy, and the formation of modern Brazil.

• Largo da Carioca – A vibrant urban space where history, commerce, religion, and everyday life intersect in the heart of the city.

• Cinelândia – Rio’s cultural district, featuring some of the city's most important institutions:

  • National Museum of Fine Arts (MNBA)

  • Theatro Municipal

  • National Library

Together, these landmarks reveal the social, cultural, political, and ethnic diversity that shaped Rio de Janeiro throughout the centuries.

IMPORTANT:

Our meeting point is at Windsor Guanabara Hotel, located in the Central area of Rio de Janeiro,

Guanabara Windsor Hotel Address:

Av. Pres. Vargas, 392 - Centro, Rio de Janeiro.

Localization: https://maps.app.goo.gl/8QuXTSu6j5JKKv1c8

Please wait for us in front of the hotel - at the door⛳ Our guide will be wearing a blue t-shirt.

What We Recommend:

- Wear light and comfortable clothing.

- Bring sneakers, sunglasses, and apply sunscreen.

- Carry water (you’ll be walking under the sun).

- Pack some light snacks.

- If you take medication, make sure to bring it along, as there aren’t any nearby pharmacies in the area.

⚠️ Important Notice:

Avoid using your phone in open spaces like the streets. If you need to make a call or send a message, go into a bar, church, or another safe spot. Do not walk with your phone in your hand.

Approximate duration: 3.5 hours

Languages available: Portuguese, English and Spanish
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Prices

• 1 participant: the price shown is an individual price per person.

• 2, 3, 4 or 6 participants: the price shown is a flat rate for the entire group, not per person.

Please select only the package(s) that you need, according to the total number of participants in your group.

Optional Afro-Brazilian lunch available nearby.
Contact us after booking to include this in your group’s itinerary.

Important:

Before completing your reservation, make sure to select the currency of your country of residence at checkout (example, if you're an American, select USD).

Looking for a custom rate for larger groups?
Contact us via WhatsApp: +55 (21) 97949-5085.

Free cancellation up to 72 hours prior to the scheduled tour start time.

Cancellations made 48 to 71 hours prior to the tour are eligible for a partial refund.

Cancellations made within 24 hours of the tour start time, as well as no-shows, are non-refundable.

Bookings may be transferred to another participant at no additional cost, provided the request is made before the tour begins and confirmed by Etnias – Tourism & Culture.

Tours operate subject to weather and operational conditions. Schedule or meeting point adjustments may occur in order to deliver the experience as proposed.

If you request to reschedule your tour within 24 hours of the tour start time, it will be considered a no-show, and a new booking and payment will be required for the new date or time.

Rescheduling is subject to availability of our guides, updated rates, and current pricing at the time of the new booking.

🎯By completing the booking, the participant agrees to these terms.

We'll start our journey at San Bento Monastery. It's a historic 16th-century Benedictine complex in Rio de Janeiro, famous for its austere white facade and breathtaking, gold-leaf Baroque interior.

Its history is also related to an important black artist in Rio de Janeiro.

We will visit Candelaria Church. It's a majestic Roman Catholic church located in the downtown area (Centro). Built over a century (1775 to the late 1800s).

We will visit the Casa França Brasil. It's Casa Brasil) is a prominent cultural center in central Rio de Janeiro. Originally requested in 1819 by King João VI and designed by French architect Grandjean de Montigny, the neoclassical building has served as a customs house, a courthouse, and now a vibrant contemporary art space. It's history is related to slavery times.

We'll visit the Rio Antigo (Old Rio) that is related to the historic and culturally interesting Downtown of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It inludes the Ouvidor street, Telles Arch and XV Square, offering a glimpse into Brazil’s colonial past, imperial history, and some Afro-Brazilian heritage.

We will visit the main stage in Rio de Janeiro for the historical facts. As a politival centre it witnessed important moments suck as the arrival of the Portuguese Crown and the abolition of Slavery annoucement. Wealso have othe black references as the valentim Fountain and other historical facts related to the official and unofficial history.

We’ll visit a monument in honour to João Candido at Praça XV de Novembro in Rio de Janeiro, honors the historic leader of the 1910 Revolt of the Whip (Revolta da Chibata). João Cândido led a successful rebellion against the Brazilian Navy's brutal working conditions and corporal punishment.

Officially named Praça Floriano Peixoto, is a bustling and historic public square in the heart of downtown Rio de Janeiro. It acts as a major cultural and political hub, renowned for its magnificent architecture, major museums, and central Rio de Janeiro Metro station. We talk about the Municipal Theater, National Library, Fine Arts Museum and important characters indigenous, like Mercedes Baptista, Ruth de Souza and the population on the "Bota Abaixo" demolition.