Rio de Janeiro is the most recognizable Brazilian city. The mighty metropolis, one of the largest cities in the country, is radiant with the fame of the world capital of the carnival. Located by the sea, with access to several sandy beaches, including the famous Copacabana, it is extremely diverse, and its symbol is the figure of Christ the Redeemer standing on a high rock.
The city was built on the site of a Portuguese trading post, and its name reflects the belief of the first explorers that they found their way to the mouth of the river. Over the centuries, it has changed from a commercial port into the most important center of colonial Brazil, and after independence, it was the capital. In 960, the authorities moved to newly built Brasilia, and Rio remained one of the country's largest and most important cities.
Despite the long history of monuments dating back to the 16th century, there are relatively few monuments in Rio de Janeiro. These include, in particular, churches such as the Church of Nossa Senhora da Candelária, the Monastery of St. Benedict or the buildings of colonial districts with the famous Arco de Teles or Fort Copacabana. However, it is not the monuments that make Rio so attractive. It is a city that is awake, a thriving entertainment center, and an important sports center.
The Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro left behind numerous sports facilities, such as the Nilton Santos Stadium. However, the most famous is the football temple and one of the most important football stadiums in the world, Maracana.
Visiting Rio de Janeiro is a constant discovery of its different faces and attractions scattered around different places. The largest of these is, of course, the Christ the Redeemer Statue on Mount Corcovado. You can take a trail or take a cable car to reach the statue. Nevertheless, the rocky Sugarloaf Mountain is a famous place, a great vantage point over the city and the entire bay. There is a cable car to its top, and you can reach the Morro de Urca transfer station via the Morro de Urca trail. The entire coast of Rio is covered with sandy beaches. The best known are Copacabana and Ipanema, but there are equally good conditions for relaxation, for example, on the Arpoador Beach or the Red Beach.
Other must-see attractions in Rio de Janeiro are the famous Sambodrome, the site of the world's most famous carnival. Every year, before Ash Wednesday, parades with performances of samba schools are held here, where millions of tourists from all over the world enjoy themselves.
There are also many museums to visit in Rio, such as the futuristic Museum of Tomorrow, the Museum of Modern Art and the Niteroi Museum of Contemporary Art. A big attraction is the Aquarium, where you can watch exotic sea and river fish, while relaxation can be found in numerous parks, such as Park Lage, Quinta da Boa Vista or Park Flamengo-Aterro.
