The Royal Academy's blockbuster exhibition, Brasil! Brasil! will no doubt inspire many to visit the places behind the paintings; here's how to do just that with Original Travel 

With the opening of the Royal Academy's major exhibition, Brasil! Brasil! The Birth of Modernism (28 January – 21 April), Original Travel is celebrating the country's remarkable art scene and showcasing some of its most exciting and exclusive art experiences. Among these are immersive street art experiences, private gallery tours, a chance to explore the very locations that inspired the iconic works on display, plus exclusive visits to the homes of two of the exhibition's most important artists; Tarsila do Amaral and Candido Portinari.  

The colourfully-curated display - which features over 130 works by ten prominent 20th century Brazilian artists - offers a fascinating glimpse into the diversity of Brazilian art during this transformative period. It's also the perfect introduction to any Original Travel trip to Brazil. On graduation from gallery to reality, you can really explore the country's culture, taking in its cutting-edge museums, iconic architecture and the landscapes that inspired so many artists. You might like to include a stay at Original Travel's very own property as part of your trip too. Villa Bahia is a unique boutique hotel, tucked away in a UNESCO-listed neighbourhood in the soulful city of Salvador. 
 

Tarsila do Amaral 
Tarsila do Amaral is considered one of Brazil's most famous modernist painters and the exhibition features two of her iconic oil paintings; Landscape with Bridge and Lake. Her distinctive works are inspired by the landscapes, people, and culture of her homeland, which you can discover with a visit to her restored home, Casa do Sertão. Situated in Rafard on São Bernardo Farm (her father's estate), the home is not always open to the public, but Original Travel can arrange access, on request. Combine the visit with a few days in São Paulo, where you can weave in a visit to Museu de Arte de São Paulo (MASP), renowned for its impressive modern art collection and Lina Bo Bardi's iconic architecture. 
Sample itinerary: An eight-day trip, including three nights in Rio de Janeiro, three nights in São Paulo and a day trip to Tarsila do Amaral's home costs from £4,500pp, based on two sharing and including all flights, transfers and private guided tours. Original Travel, 020 3582 4990, www.originaltravel.co.uk 

Candido Portinari  
Original Travel also offers the chance to visit the former home of another of Brazil's most celebrated modernist painters, the 'painter of the people', Candido Portinari. His family home in Brodowski has been listed by the Institute of National Historical and Artistic Heritage and has been meticulously preserved, offering visitors an authentic insight into Portinari's life and work, which portrays the nation's people and landscapes in vivid, raw detail. A visit to his home is an unmissable experience for both art enthusiasts and history buffs, providing a deeper understanding of his profound contributions to Brazilian culture. Again, this visit can be part of a longer trip to São Paulo where Original Travel's clued-up local concierge can organise guided tours for one of the many art galleries from the cutting edge modern art at Galeria Vermelho or the historical Pinacoteca de São Paulo, a treasure trove of Brazilian art and history housed in a stunning 19th-century building, once an arts & crafts school.  
Sample itinerary: An eight-day trip, including three nights in Rio de Janeiro, three nights in São Paulo and a day trip to Candido Portinari's home costs from £4,500pp, based on two sharing and including all flights, transfers and private guided tours. Original Travel, 020 3582 4990, www.originaltravel.co.uk 

Roberto Burle Marx and Oscar Niemeyer 
The exhibition references several collaborations with architects, notably Oscar Niemeyer, who designed the UFO-like Niteroi Contemporary Art Museum, and legendary landscape architect Roberto Burle Marx, credited with applying the modernist aesthetic to Brazil's parks and gardens. As well as contributing to the landscape design of new capital city, Brasilia, Burle Marx also designed the famous mosaic pavements of Copacabana and Flamengo in Rio. His former estate and botanical gardens are an absolute wonder and can be explored on a guided day trip with Original Travel. Located in Barra de Guaratiba, 35 miles from central Rio de Janeiro, the estate houses his workshop - where he conceived many of his projects, including paintings, furniture, and sculptures - and the vast collection of tropical plants; 3,500 species, collected on his travels throughout Brazil. As part of the trip, Original Travel can also organise tickets to the grand Casa do Pontal museum, one of Brazil's largest museums of popular art and featuring 8,000 works by more than 200 artists from all regions of Brazil, plus a guided tour of the Mural das Etnias, the largest street art mural in the world, in Rio's port region.  
Original Travel's Brazil Explorer is a 14-day trip, starting from £4,605pp, based on two people. The trip will take you through Minas Gerais (which features in the exhibition in paintings by both Alfredo Volpi and  Tarsila do Amaral) Rio, Buzios, Paraty and the Costa Verde. Price includes all flights, transfers, private guides, guided hikes and 13 nights' hotel accommodation. Original Travel, 020 3582 4990, www.originaltravel.co.uk 

Street Art Tours in São Paulo 
São Paulo's street art has transformed the city into an open-air gallery, with large-scale murals decorating tower blocks and entire neighbourhoods renowned for their colourful streets. There is much to see on a street art tour and many secret murals hidden from the tourist's eye, but Original Travel knows just the local artists to help guide you. One of the vibrant neighbourhoods you'll explore is Vila Madalena, famous for its Beco do Batman street. The alleyway earned its name from its first mural featuring the iconic superhero, and has since been transformed by both local and international artists. After soaking up inspiration, you'll have creative control over your own wall, giving you the chance to craft your own masterpiece. 
Original Travel's Offbeat Brazil starts from £4,605 for a 15-day trip, based on two people. Price includes all flights, transfers, private guides, a range of activities and 13 nights' hotel accommodation. Original Travel, 020 3582 4990, www.originaltravel.co.uk 

Bahian Music and dance in Salvador 
From the mid-16th to the late 19th century, Salvador was one of the main hubs for the Portuguese importation of African slaves. As a result, the city's culture is far more influenced by African traditions than any other city in Brazil. The Afro-Brazilian Museum is an integral spot to learn about Brazil's African heritage. It houses over 1,800 objects of African and Afro-Brazilian origin, including wood carvings, pottery, crafts, and various artworks. Combine a visit to the Afro-Brazilian Museum with an intimate percussion workshop celebrating Salvador's African heritage.  
For literature enthusiasts or those eager to deep dive into Salvador's Afro-Brazilian history, a visit to Casa do Jorge Amado is a must when in the city. A look into the life of Jorge Amado, the Brazilian literary giant, offers an interesting study into Brazilian communist politics and the country's social dynamics of the 1930s and 1940s. With Original Travel, you can discover the impressive bibliographic and artistic collections, comprising over 250,000 pieces, housed within Salvador's historic centre. 
 Original Travel's Authentic Brazil: Salvador, Trancoso and Rio starts at £3,860pp for a 13-day trip, based on two people. Price includes all flights, transfers, private guided tours and 11 nights' hotel accommodation. Original Travel, 020 3582 4990, www.originaltravel.co.uk 

-Ends-  

Follow us on instagram @originaltravel for more travel inspiration and for more information contact: press@originaltravel.co.uk; 020 3582 4990   

     _________________________________________________________________________  

Notes to Editors:  

• Original Travel curates tailor-made itineraries, crafted by destination experts, to 77 countries worldwide from Anguilla to Zimbabwe. Celebrating its 21st anniversary this year, the company has created over 50,000 itineraries since its launch in 2003, each one unique and adhering to the company ethos that “Life is in the Detail”.  

• Original Travel also has its own specialist dive division. Original Diving is the world's only luxury dive travel outfit.  

• 11 of our consultants are recognised as Conde Nast Traveler's 2024 Travel Specialists – more than any other tour operator for the 2nd year running. Our specialists are: Co-founder, Tom Barber (family travel and sabbaticals), Jacqui Brooks (Indonesia), Oliver Rodwell (Mexico), Ben Williams (Egypt) Kate Little (Romania), Isabel de Galleani (Morocco), Frances Mavor (India), Harriet Harford (European Wine Regions), Holly Barber (Cambodia) and Lucy Bailey (Oman). 

• In October 2024, Original Travel was ranked among the top five Tour Operators in the country in the prestigious Conde Nast Traveller Reader's Choice Awards.  

• Original Travel clients enjoy a wealth of additional services they would not find with any other UK tour operator, including:  

• Access to a network of 70-plus Concierges who live locally, know their destinations inside and out and are extremely well-connected. They lend fantastic ground support, offering insider recommendations, facilitating any last-minute changes and troubleshooting.  

• A brace of additional services designed to make departure easier than ever. Every Original Travel client, regardless of whether they're off on a city break, or a multi-destination sabbatical, is checked in on all flights – outbound, domestic and inbound - with boarding passes uploaded to the Original Travel app; will have UK airport meet and greet, fast track UK check-in, fast track UK security*, lounge access and pre-booked flight seats. Thoughtful details include wifi routers or e-sims, destination specific book and music lists and children's activity packs. There are also upgrade options to include: a luggage transfer service from your home to the airport; fast track check-in and security and lounge access on your flight home; fast track through immigration on your return to the UK.  

• The knowledge that not only will Original Travel absorb the carbon footprint of their international flights, but also - in an industry-first - car-hire and transfers, and other flights (even if booked independently).  Clients can also be advised on which flight options have the lowest levels of emissions, thanks to an industry-leading and world-first carbon calculator which can compare the levels of emissions generated by each flight, using data compiled from flight plans, aircraft type, the cabin class, direct versus indirect flights and the target occupancy rate. 
  
  
• The knowledge that they are contributing to Our Foundation, which supports nearly 100 humanitarian projects in 30 developing countries. To date, nearly £1.5 million has been invested to support five key areas: child protection, vocational training, economic development assistance, preservation of cultural and natural heritage and safeguarding the lifestyles of indigenous peoples.