Brazil is the largest country in South America with an area of more than 8.5 million square kilometers and one of the most culturally diverse and most populous countries in the world. An eclectic mix of Portuguese, European, Native American, African, Asian and Middle Eastern immigrants has lived harmoniously in Brazil for generations. Many are surprised to find that Sao Paulo has the largest Japanese community outside of Japan, while the highest concentrations of Germans and Italians live in the south in Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina.
Basic information
Why go to Brazil
Why go to Brazil? The answer is relatively simple: for her temperament and love of entertainment, nature, history, culture and most importantly, Brazil is a land of great natural beauty.
Beautiful beaches and rainforests are just some of the excellent attractions that await visitors. Brazil is also home to people of great ethnic and cultural diversity, whose heritage is reflected in live art and celebrations, historic cities and crowded urban centers.
The capital of Brazil
The capital of Brazil is Brazil, which has been the capital only since 1960. It used to be the capital of Rio De Janeiro.
Brazil is an exceptional city in that it was built artificially out of nowhere, in order to create a new capital that would be more accessible from all parts of Brazil, as Rio De Janeiro was located in the south of the country.
The whole city was designed in detail on paper, which areas will be commercial, banking, residential or industrial and even the maximum height of buildings. From a bird’s eye view, the city has the shape of an airplane. For its modern architecture and beauty, it has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987.
Flag of Brazil
The current form of the Brazilian flag was created in 1889 and consists of a green background, in the center of which is a yellow diamond containing a blue circle, through which passes a white passport with the slogan “ORDEM E PROGRESSO”, which means “order and progress”. .
The author of the motto, which inspired them to create the flag, was the founder of positivism, the French philosopher Auguste Comte.
Each element of the flag also has its meaning. The green symbolizes the lush nature of the Amazon rainforest, the yellow mineral wealth (gold) of the country, the blue circle sky and white stars, representing the states of the Brazilian Federation.
Population of Brazil
Brazil is the largest and most populous state in South America, with a population of over 210 million.
Brazil is also a strongly multi-ethnic society.
The Brazilian population consists mainly of descendants of Indians, Portuguese settlers, African slaves and various groups of immigrants who came to Brazil mainly between 1820 and 1970.
The immigrants were mainly Italians and Portuguese, but also Germans, Spaniards, Japanese, Syrians and Lebanese. Since the arrival of the Portuguese in Brazil around 1500, there has been an intense cross between Americans, Europeans and Africans in the country.
Holidays in Brazil
Brazil is a federation of different republics and therefore has many holidays that are celebrated only at the regional level.
The most important holidays in Brazil that are celebrated nationwide are:
- January 1 - New Year
- February - Carnival (moving holiday)
- March / April - Good Easter Friday (moving holiday)
- duben - Tiradentes
- May 1 - Labor Day
- September 7 - Independence of Brazil
- October 12 - Feast of the Apparition of the Virgin Mary
- November 2 - Memorials of the deceased
- November 15 - Declaration of the Republic
- December 25 - Christmas holiday
Coat of arms of Brazil
The coat of arms of Brazil, as we know it in its current form, was created in 1889. Gradually, as the states joined the Brazilian federation, asterisks were gradually added to the coat of arms.
It was last modified in 1992 to 27 stars.
The emblem consists of a five-pointed star colored in the national colors (green and yellow), and in its center is a blue circle containing 27 stars representing all the republics of the federation. It is lined on the edges with green branches of coffee and tobacco. At the bottom there is a blue ribbon on which we find the name of the republic “República Federativa do Brasil” together with the date of its establishment.
Time shift
The time difference between Brazil and the Czech Republic is:
- in the months of March - October - 5 hours
- in the months of November - February - 3 hours
Currency of Brazil
The official currency in Brazil since 1994 is the real (R $), 1 real is divided into 100 centavos (cents).
Paper notes are in the values of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 R $ and coins in the values of 1, 5, 10, 25, 50 centavos and 1 real.
When traveling to Brazil, we recommend that you take dollars with you, because they do not confuse Czech crowns. In larger cities you will find many exchange offices, but it is recommended to change in banks, because they have a more advantageous exchange rate.
However, credit card payment is quite widespread in Brazil, with which you can pay in hotels, restaurants and shops.
Visa to Brazil
If you are traveling to Brazil for tourism and your stay does not exceed 90 days, you do not need a visa. However, your passport must be valid for at least another 6 months when you enter the country.
In rare cases, they may require you to confirm sufficient funds, confirm your hotel reservation or even confirm that you have purchased a return ticket upon entry.
If you plan to travel to the surrounding border countries, always ask for a stamp in your passport, otherwise you may have problems returning to the country.
Interesting facts about Brazil
Did you know that every city in Brazil has at least one football stadium?
Football is the most popular sport in Brazil and, how else could it be in the country that has won the most titles in the world. All Brazilians are watching him eagerly and there is no shortage of at least one stadium in any city.
Another curiosity worth mentioning is that 40 kilometers off the coast of Brazil is an island of snakes, also called Snake Island, which is completely infested with poisonous snakes, so much so that the Brazilian government has completely isolated it and only the army is allowed to enter. scientists authorized by the government to study snakes.
Vaccination
Vaccination is not required when visiting Brazil, but vaccination against yellow fever, typhoid fever and hepatitis A and B is recommended.
If you are traveling to the Amazon, consider vaccinating against dengue fever and meningitis.
Security
Brazil can be considered a stable country even though, from a political and economic point of view, it is going through a difficult phase.
As for crime, it is relatively high in Brazil. Armed clashes of street gangs with the police are also quite common, during which they even shoot many times.
That’s why you should avoid the poorest neighborhoods in big cities, such as Favelas.
It is also not recommended to wear expensive jewelry, watches and other expensive items, because you run the risk of being robbed.
Assault and robbery are the order of the day and are not uncommon in broad daylight.
That’s why you really only carry the most basic things with you.
Important contacts
Where to call in case of emergency in Brazil?
- Rescue service: 192/193
- fire brigade: 193
- police: 190
Brazil’s area code is +55.
Contacts at the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Brazil:
Address:
Embassy of the Czech Republic
SES 805, Lote 21A, Via L3 Sul, Asa Sul
ZIP Code 70200-901, Brasília - DF
Brazil
Phone: +55 61 3242 7785
Email: brasilia@embassy.mzv.cz
Further contacts can be found at https://www.mzv.cz/brasilia
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Cover photo by Joshua Gresham on Unsplash
