Those thrusting for parties should participate in carnivals taking place in Rio de Janeiro. Any Brazilian carnival is a grand cultural event, a fountain of art, an enchanting whirlpool of sounds, colors, and movements, but Rio is the capital of fun. Here, male and female dancers dressed in colorful costumes compete in the art of samba. It's almost a kilometer long parade of bright colors and music. Parades held in Recife, El Salvador, and other Brazilian cities are quieter but no less magnificent.
Being deeply religious in spite of changing times, Brazil is as if covered with churches and temples of unspeakable beauty. Just take monasteries and churches in northeastern tropical El Salvador, the capital of Bahia. The magnificent São Francisco Church and Convent was built 400 years ago. Being completely covered with quaint gilt carvings, its interior decoration is not inferior to the exterior luxury. Inside you can find a tall gold-trimmed altar, Portuguese "Azulejo" ceramic tilework, and ceiling painted in a religious manner. Next to the São Francisco Church are Igreja da Ordem Terceira de São Francisco and the Church of the Third Order of Saint Francis whose spectacular carved facade is adorned with angels and saints. Just like its neighbor, this church is as rich inside as outside.
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