Discovered by Portuguese explorers on 1st January 1502, Guanabara Bay was mistaken for an enormous river mouth, and they named the city  Rio de Janeiro, 'River of January'.  The Portuguese colony flourished using African slaves and the African influence is still very evident in the city's culture.  Brazil became a republic in 1889, and Rio remained its capital until 1960, when the Federal Government moved to Brasilia.

Rio de Janeiro is an awe-inspiring city of contrasts.  Impossibly steep granite mountains jut out of the ocean between glorious stretches of golden sand, impeccable colonial buildings nestle in betweeen modern glass skyscrapers and verdant forests tumble down hillsides into densely populated residential areas.

It is a city high on life, a city of beach worship, football, samba and Carnival.  The statue of Christ the Redeemer watches over all this fun and frivolity from the Corcovado, so named because of its hunchback shape.

Ten million people live in Rio, squeezed in between the ocean and the mountains.  The city is a melting pot of cultures and peoples in varying degrees of wealth or poverty.  Both live together and the exclusive areas stand in stark contrast and close proximity to the slum areas, or favelas.  However, the Cariocas ~ as the citizens of Rio are known ~ are characterised by a passion and enthusiasm for life.

Central to Carioca lifestyle is the beach. From dawn until well into the night, Rio can be found enjoying the long stretches of sandy coastline with which the city is blessed.  Not merely a place to absorb the sun's rays, the beach is an important venue for sports, socialising and even business.  The famous beaches of Copocabana and Ipanema are a people-watcher's paradise, attracting locals and tourists alike.

 

 

• Statue of Christ the Redeemer, Corcovado Mountain ~ Best visited by train, a journey of about 20 minutes, the views from the top are stunning, and the 30m high statue sits upon a pedestal containing a chapel capable of holding 150 people.
• Sugar Loaf Mountain ~ Pao de Açúcar.  A conical mountain, accessed by foot or, most popularly, by cable car, taken in two stages, offering spectacular views of the city, the beaches and the mountains of Tijuca National Park and the islands in the Guanabara Bay.
• Copocabana and Ipanema Beaches ~ Frequented by young Cariocas and visitors alike, sunbathing, jogging, cycling, playing volleyball and soccer.  As well as white sand, bars and galleries line Ipenema and the Sunday craft market is great fun.
• Maracana Stadium ~ Built in 1950 to host the World Cup Final, the Maracana is the largest stadium in the world, capable of holding 90,000 people.