Samba Route aims to attract foreign tourists to Rio's suburbs
The Oswaldo Cruz neighborhood is a symbol of samba in Rio de Janeiro. Home to the Portela Samba School and samba singer Candeia, this area in the northern zone will be part of a new tourist route designed to attract foreign visitors.
Caminho do Samba (Samba Route) will be launched this Monday (Dec. 2), National Samba Day, by Embratur, the Brazilian tourism promotion agency, in partnership with the city's mayor's office.
The route highlights ten sites connected to the history of samba in the neighborhood, including the rehearsal court of the Portela Samba School, the Oswaldo Cruz train station, and the Yabás fair (which features typical foods and samba circles on the second Sunday of each month), as well as the homes of Candeia, and Tia Doca and Dona Ester—women who helped shape Portela's history.
“Almost all of our heritage is symbolic; it's immaterial. There isn't a castle here. This Samba Route is wonderful because people will visit and learn about a history that’s rarely told. It highlights places as important as Oswaldo Cruz in the history of Brazilian music,” says singer-songwriter Marquinhos from Oswaldo Cruz, curator of the Samba Route.
According to Embratur, the goal is to promote Brazil's cultural heritage, attract more foreign tourists, and boost the local economy.
“We've trained guides and tourism students to showcase the routes and promote Afrotourism, highlighting samba's cultural and economic significance and supporting the local economy,” said Marcelo Freixo, president of Embratur.
According to him, interactive maps, audio guides, and self-guided bilingual itineraries have been created, along with augmented reality applications. "We will also offer free guided tours for foreigners, providing authentic experiences along the samba routes. These tours will be supported by audio guides and historical narratives accessible via QR codes," Freixo explained.
“The route is incredible and takes visitors to places where very few people know the history, such as Bar do Nozinho. Few would imagine that Walt Disney once had a beer there with Paulo da Portela and drew inspiration from the visit to create the character Zé Carioca,” Marcelo Freixo added.
