Rio de Janeiro

Commonly known as just Rio (particularly in English and by its inhabitants), the city is famous for its spectacular natural setting, the Carnival celebrations, samba, beaches, such as Copacabana, Ipanema, and Leblon, pavements decorated with black and cream swirl pattern mosaics, and the easy-going lifestyle of its inhabitants.

Some of the most famous local landmarks in Rio de Janeiro besides the beaches are the giant statue of Jesus, known as Christ the Redeemer ('Cristo Redentor') atop Corcovado mountain; Sugar Loaf mountain with its cable car; the Sambódromo, a giant permanent parade stand used during Carnival; and Maracanã stadium, one of the world's largest soccer stadiums. Rio also boasts the world's largest forest inside an urban area, called Floresta da Tijuca, or 'Tijuca Forest'.

The following is an excerpt of what can be found in the tourist brochures published by the Brazilian embassy:

Ciudade Maravillosa, "the marvellous city" as Rio de Janeiro is known to its residents (or cariocas) and the rest of Brazil, is also arguably the most beautiful city both in terms of its setting and its people.

This is, after all, the city that brought us the "Girl from Ipanema" and all her friends.

It is the world's largest tropical city, is a mix of a major metropolitan centre, with all the facilities you might expect, with excellent restaurants, sophisticated night life, charming bars, musical extravaganzas, theatre, cinema, museums, art galleries and world-class shopping and sport, and a resort.

As a tropical resort, Rio de Janeiro offers miles of golden beaches, including, Ipanema and Copacabana, two of the most famous stretches of sand in the world with near-perfect weather all year round.

Rio has accommodation to suit every taste and budget, an abundance of folklore, local foods and music, and the feeling that when in Rio de Janeiro, you are in another world.

Rio's Carnival is larger, livelier, louder and more diverse than any other and nothing can prepare the visitor for the sheer scale of the celebrations that take over the entire country. And it is the entire country, with the carnival celebrations in Salvador and Recife rivalling those in Rio de Janeiro in the hearts of the resident Brazilian population.

Each carnival is unique and plays out to its own rhythms and styles, whether it's the samba schools in Rio de Janeiro, the Trios Eletricos in Salvador or the frevo and maracatu in Recife and Olinda.

Rio de Janeiro's parade of the Samba Schools

Internationally, the most recognisable element of Brazils carnival is the parade of the leading samba schools, which takes place in Rio de Janeiro on the Sunday and Monday night of carnival. The parade really is the greatest show on earth, the ultimate theatrical presentation that combines song, dance, movement, history and storytelling, that is performed in a competitive cauldron over two nights by more than 65,000 actors, dancers and musicians.

Carnival is traditionally a pre-Lent celebration and is therefore a moveable holiday that culminates on Ash Wednesday. The dates for carnival are published and can be found in the A-Z of Brazil.

Brazil does not only celebrate at carnival time. There are numerous 'carnivals' held out-of-season and other major events such as the Boi-Bumba, held at Parintins in the middle of the Amazon from 28-30 June, and the New Year celebrations in Rio. A list of the main carnivals and Brazilian festivities can be found at www.brazil.org.uk or by contacting your local Brazilian Tourist Office.

http://www.excitingbrazil.com/riodejaneiro.html