Olinda, one of the topmost Carnival destinations in Brazil, has launched its official, online 2013 Carnival Guide. The guide is already listing the city's prévias, or pre-Carnival parties and parades, which start in earnest this weekend.
In 2012, 800 blocos, or Carnival groups, and 500 orquestras itinerantes - bands which move about town and perform in the intervals between bloco events - took part in Olinda Carnival.
According to city officials, the hotel occupancy reached about 95% and approximately 2.1 million tourists were in town for the main, four-day holiday last year.
A major street clean-up operation took place today and the city is revising public safety strategies in preparation for the prévias and Carnival. Most of the events take place in Olinda's historic center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site (eight of the 15 Carnival polos, or hubs, last year).
Photo: Passarinho/Pref. Olinda