the image of the bright yellow santa teresa tram, or bondinho as it is locally known, is probably one of the most iconic images of the city, especially in the pictures of it crossing the famous arcos da lapa.

the bonde is held very fondly by local santa teresa residents almost to the point of personification - there are paintings of it on the walls, and no souvenir store is ever short of miniatures, postcards, or bonde t-shirts.

originally green, the tram was repainted in bright yellow after the residents complained it could not be distinguished from the flush vegetation in the neighborhood.