Tavares Bastos Favela Tour with a Visit to the FIFA Street Court

Tavares Bastos is a small favela on the slopes of Nova Cintra hill, between Catete and Glória, considered one of the most peaceful in Rio. Its football court, surrounded by houses and murals, became world-famous as a setting of the FIFA Street video game, and its alleys appeared in films such as The Incredible Hulk. We meet in front of the Museum of the Republic (Catete Palace). From there we go up into the community and walk its alleys with a resident guide, who tells you the history of the hill and what life is like there today. We pass The Maze, the labyrinth-like house built by a British artist that became a jazz hotspot, explore the open-air graffiti museum and visit viewpoints overlooking Guanabara Bay and Sugarloaf Mountain. The highlight is the visit to the FIFA Street court, where you learn its story, take photos and spend time with children and residents of the community. At the end we share a snack in a local home and learn about the social project that receives part of what you pay.