Rio de Janeiro

Rio de Janeiro

A cosmopolitan metropolis, known worldwide for its scenic beauty and its natural resources, Rio de Janeiro provides a harmonious and agreeable environment for its inhabitants and visitors. Those who have seen Carnival, a festival considered the biggest in the world, always come back for more. For first timers, the impact is unforgettable. The Parade of the Samba Schools in Rio is one of the greatest shows on earth. The parade is like an opera, in which scenery and fantasy float past the public, the story being told with the song, the symbols, the costumes and the floats, which year by year become more creative. The parade usually starts around 8pm, and goes on through the night, sometimes lasting until dawn, though the rising sun softens the effect and the show is more spectacular at night.

Attractions

Those who have seen Carnival before come back for more. For first timers the impact is unforgettable.The Parade of the Samba Schools in Rio is one of the greatest shows on earth. The parade is like an opera, in which scenery and fantasy float past the public, the story being told with the song, the symbols, the costumes and the floats, which year by year become more creative. The parade usually starts around 8pm, and goes on through the night, sometimes lasting until dawn, though the rising sun softens the effect and the show is more spectacular at night.

Activities

The Statue of Christ is one of the main beauty spots in the city, standing 2,330 feet above sea level and providing a sweeping panoramic view of sea and mountain, a world famous vista. The mountain is crowned with the statue of Christ, 98 feet high with a 26 foot pedestal containing a chapel that can hold 150 people. The top of the Corcovado can be reached by electric train or by car. Located in the Largo da Lapa Square,the center of Rio's turn-of-the-century nightlife, the Lapa Arches hold their place in history as the most monumental work undertaken in colonial Rio. This magnificent structure contains 42 arches in two tiers. Originally built as an aqueduct to supply the city with water, today they carry another outstanding attraction: the scenic tramlines linking the Carioca Station downtown to the picturesque Santa Teresa district, a vibrant artistic community, with a great range of bars, restaurants, museums, cultural centers and artist's studios. Designed and built by A. Guilbert and Francisco de Oliveira Passos, the Municiple Theatre was inaugurated on July 14, 1909. The main murals are by Eliseu Visconti - the ceiling and back drop - by Rodolfo Amoedo. Mosaics are by Henrique Bernadelli. The Botanical Gardens are a paradise of plants and trees from the four corners of the earth. Founded in 1808, it spreads over an area of about 340 acres. Over 5000 species of plants, some of the most impressive being the Imperial Palms planted in 1842. Located across from the Municipal Theater, the National Museum of Fine Arts has about 800 original paintings and sculptures and some thousand direct reproductions. One gallery is dedicated entirely to works by Brazilian artists from the 17th century onwards.

Shopping

Rio de Janeiro is the capital and the hub of Brazilian fashion, whose designers and models are becoming more and more famous on the international circuit. Fashion is without doubt the major attraction in the shopping malls of the South Zone and Barra, where there is an infinite range of clothing for men, women and children. Standard hours at the malls are 10am to 10pm from Monday to Saturday, and 3pm to 9pm on Sundays. All the national and international labels are available, as well as export quality shoes, CDs, toys and sports goods.

Food

Rio has many fine restaurants offering a wide variety of cuisines from traditional Brazilian to French and Japanese. Check out the belle epoque Confeitaria Colombo in the center of downtown. Meat lovers will enjoy the experience of eating at a Churrascaria, where barbecued meats are brought to your table on huge skewers and sliced right onto your plate. The local beer is excellent. Cachaca, made from sugarcane, is the basic ingredient for the popular drink, caipirinha.

Currency

The Brazilian currency is the Real (R$).

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