Manaus & the Teatro Amazonas Opera House
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Port
Manaus, Brazil
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Activity Level
Moderate
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Excursion Type
Local Sightseeing,All
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Wheelchair Accessible
No
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Starting At
$99.95
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Minimum Age
Information Not Currently Available
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Duration
Approximately 2½ hours
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Meals Included
Meals not included
Depart from the floating port of Manaus, designed to move up and down with the river tide of the Rio Negro.
You will visit the Municipal Market, where a local guide teaches you how to discern the best fish, fruits and medicinal herbs.
Drive by the Customs House, prefabricated in Liverpool and shipped to Manaus a hundred years ago, and watch for the cathedral. The Palacio Rio Negro was the private residence of a German rubber baron and later became the Governor’s office.
The highlight of your tour will be a visit to the city’s most famous landmark -- the lavish pink-and-white Teatro Amazonas Opera House. Built in 1896, this architectural marvel features a dome of 36,000 vitrified ceramic tiles imported from Europe, set in a mosaic of the colors of the Brazilian flag. The amazing painting that graces the inside of the dome is a recreation of the view you would have if you stood under the Eiffel Tower and looked up. The dazzling auditorium boasts perfect acoustics, and performances here range from single guitar concerts to entire ballet companies and philharmonic orchestras. As stunning as the building is, perhaps its most extraordinary element is that it is located in the heart of the Amazon jungle, in the city of Manaus -- a testament to the dazzling affluence that accompanied the rubber boom of 1896.
On the way back to the ship, you will pass the Prosamin District, built to improve housing for those who live along the rivers. This means better living conditions, health and sanitation, social programs, and environmental awareness.
Notes:
Shade is limited and temperatures are always high; to avoid sunburn, wear light, long clothing suitable for use as a cover-up. Bring a hat and sunglasses; wear biodegradable sunscreen. Bring bottled water. Bring a light, waterproof outer layer. Minimum age is 5 years. Tour does not operate on Sundays.