Paraty boasts what is considered the most harmonious group of XVIII century colonial architecture in Brazil. It incorporates a number of interesting elements that you should keep an eye for. The Freemason influence can be noticed everywhere. You will see geometric panels on the façades, and street corners with three pillars in stone, and one in whitewash. They stand for Liberty, Equality and Fraternity. Exotic pineapple-shaped lamps, small balconies decorated with guardrails of intricate iron lacework, and rings near the door to tie horses are also easy to find.

Many sobrados (two-story houses) have what looks like metal horns or flutes jutting out of the walls. They actually serve a purpose, namely to divert rainwater to the street. Since façades of houses cannot be changed, you will see many fake windows and doors. Doors that were turned into windows kept the original door frame, all the way down to the floor. Owners are allowed to renovate the houses inside as they will.

Some of the sobrados in Paraty have been meticulously restored to their former glory, and should be included in your walking tour. The Sobrado do Príncipe on Rua Fresca, owned by the Orleans e Bragança family, is one of them. You will find the imperial coat of arms on the right hand side of the façade, near the door. Try to overlook the air-conditioner set on the second floor balcony.

Sobrado dos Abacaxis, the House of Pineapples, may be the most classical example of typical Paraty architecture. It has small balconies protected by iron guardrails, pineapples on the lamps and guardrail corners, and water horns jutting out of the façade which, in turn, is decorated with vertical bands of Freemason geometric panels.

And then there's Sobrado dos Bonecos, the House of the Five Missing Dolls. It is easy to spot because of the Portuguese roof tiles in white with blue motifs. You will notice the 5 stands where the dolls used to be. One of the dolls was tragically destroyed by a lightning, and the owner ended up removing (and later selling) the remaining four. Most houses in the historical center of Paraty are either one or two stories high. We dare you to find the one three-story house in the lot. Tip: you have to look at it sideways, as the third floor is receded.