Travel around the world without leaving Brazil

More from our On Location column

Germany - Pomerode (Santa Catarina)

Pomerode is considered the most German city in Brazil due to the number of German immigrants.

It has the most timber framing buildings (a construction technique assembling walls with fitted timber joined with large wooden pegs) outside of Europe. The town of Testo Alto features approximately 200 timber frame buildings. The nearby Enxaimel Route has about 50 buildings of this same style along a 16 km (9.9 mi) stretch.

It’s possible to observe other German characteristics in the city's construction, such as the use of vibrant colours, straight lines, and a clean look. It’s common to hear people communicating in German on the streets of this small town, and to see bands, choir presentations, and folklore groups in traditional garb performing historic choreographies.

Other Brazilian cities that are reminiscent of Germany:

• Blumenau (Santa Catarina)
• Nova Petrópolis (Rio Grande do Sul) 
• Cruzeiro do Sul (Acre) 
• Joinville (Santa Catarina)
• Gramado (Rio Grande do Sul)
  

Liberdade is known as the Asian neighbourhood of São Paulo. Brazil houses the largest Japanese community outside of Japan, with more than 2 million Japanese or Japanese descendants living in the state.

In this area, there are many elements that are reminiscent of Japanese cities, such as the red and white lanterns that can be found on the main streets.

There are also commercial signs written with ideograms, newsstands with Japanese newspapers, people speaking Japanese in the streets, innumerous Japanese restaurants, markets with oriental ingredients and karaoke.

Other places in São Paulo that remind us of Japan:

• Templo Kinkaku-Ji (Japanese temple and cemetery)
• Itapecerica da Serra (São Paulo)
• Miroku Tower (Ribeirão Pires, São Paulo)
  

Photo by Marana Fernandes for Unsplash

Ukraine - Prudentópolis (Paraná)

The cradle of Ukrainian immigration in Brazil, Prudentópolis preserves the architecture inspired by Eastern European construction. One exemple is the church Matriz São Josafat, built with a Byzantine structure.

Since 80% of the population is composed of immigrants and the local terrain favours a certain isolation, several customs — mainly religious — have been kept. Ukrainian is also the second official language of Prudentópolis.

During the war in Ukraine, Prudentópolis has been chosen as a refuge for many families who managed to escape from the chaos. In this city, they can still feel at home.

Switzerland - Campos do Jordão (São Paulo)

Also known as Brazilian Switzerland, this city — located in the Southeast region — is one of the main tourist destinations during the winter, offering European characteristics of both climate and architecture. The town has an average temperature of 16 ºC (60.8 ºF) all year round and is 1,628 metres (5.24 feet) above sea level, the highest in the country.

The local houses have a peculiar and traditional architecture, with triangular or conical geometry on the roofs, and the use of wood and exposed brick. There are also references to Swiss chalets and the Norman style: asymmetric constructions from Normandy, in France, with steep roofs, glazing, and walls made of masonry, bricks, and stones. 

Another location reminiscent of Switzerland:

• Nova Friburgo (Rio de Janeiro)
  

Italy - Bento Gonçalves (Rio Grande do Sul)

Several vineyards in this city transport us to Tuscany, Italy, with breathtaking scenery among the mountains, valleys, and canyons.

Caminho da Pedra (Stone Path) houses a village of wood and stone constructions along a 12 km (7.4 mi) route that preserves the customs and culture of the first immigrant families. Visitors can also travel back in time on a train ride accompanied by Italian music and dance. 

It’s possible to harvest grapes and do the famous grape stomping — crushing the grapes with your feet to separate the juice from the skins.

Other cities that remind us of Italy:

• Nova Veneza (Florianópolis)
• Domingos Martins (Espírito Santo)
• Vale dos Vinhedos (Rio Grande do Sul)
  

Finland - Penedo (Rio de Janeiro)

England - Paranapiacaba (São Paulo)

Paranapiacaba attracts many curious people for its unique style and proximity to the state capital. The old English village was built after the construction of the first railroad in São Paulo, in 1865, and has kept its rustic style until today. From the railroad cars, you can see the typical English town.

It was built to house the workers of the British company SP Railway, who took care of the architecture, the wooden buildings, and even the replica of Big Ben, installed at the station. 

The city's weather still favours the formation of a fog typical of the London atmosphere — the main attraction for visitors and film enthusiasts who like to explore possibilities for angles and shots.

Another location reminiscent of England:

• Teresópolis (Rio de Janeiro)
  

Netherlands - Holambra (São Paulo) 

Known as City of Flowers, Holombra was colonised by Dutch immigrants and this influence is reflected in the tulip fields — the flower symbol of the community —, the wooden clogs found in the craftsman stores, the typical clothes used at traditional parties, the typical dances and the rich gastronomy.

One of the most famous attractions is Moinho Povos Unidos (United Peoples' Mill). At 38.5 metres (126.3 feet) high, it’s the largest in Latin America and a local symbol.

Another location reminiscent of Netherlands:

• Carambeí (Paraná)
  

Maldives - Maragogi (Alagoas)

The crystal clear and bluish waters of Maragogi, in the Northeast region, are an excellent option to feel like you’re in the Maldives, one of the most expensive and acclaimed worldwide destinations. Maragogi can also pose as a Caribbean destination.

The main feature that makes you believe you are on the islands is Caminho de Moises (The Moses Road), a sandbank that shows up when the tide is low, located in the Barra Grande Beach. Compared to Southern Malé Atoll, the cheapest option has the same value when it comes to natural beauty.

Another location reminiscent of the Maldives:

• Ponta da Alcaíra (Arraial do Cabo, Rio de Janeiro)
  

Austria - Treze Tílias (Santa Catarina)

The most Austrian city in Brazil continues to keep its culture alive, preserving the architecture, cuisine, and sculptures, as well as the music and dance brought over by immigrants and cultivated by their descendants. In addition, a large part of the population speaks German. 

The Tyrolean architecture (Alpine style) can be seen in buildings and houses with its light colours, wood details, balconies, belfries, and flower boxes placed under the windows.

One of the most important buildings in the city is the Museu Municipal Andreas Thaler (Andreas Thaler Municipal Museum), which used to be the residence of founder Treze Tilias. The place preserves the local immigration history.

United States - Chapada das Mesas (Maranhão)

For landscapes similar to Arizona in the southwestern United States, Chapada das Mesas in Maranhão is the place to go. It’s located between the local biomes Caatinga and Cerrado.

Chapada das Mesas National Park houses a flat-top mountain range which looks like giant tables.

With canyons, caves and waterfalls, this location is the ideal option to get similar aesthetics to the Grand Canyon. In addition, the roads that lead to the conservation area can serve as an incredible backdrop for shoots.

These are some of the many foreign cultures presented in Brazil that have become part of the local traditions. No wonder the country is considered one of the friendliest in the world! Throughout its extensive territory, there is a range of cultural heritages and landscapes to explore for audiovisual productions. This list is a small sample of what’s available.

Some locations can be remote, making it difficult to find an English-speaking crew and have very specific requirements for filming. Do you have an idea or project that a co-production partner in Brazil could help you develop? Contact Story Productions and we can make it happen.

• 10 reasons to film in São Paulo
• On Location: The periphery of São Paulo in photos
• São Paulo: Brazil’s capital of diversity
• Location report: the spooky side of São Paulo
• Location spotlight: The Japanese influence in Brazil