Rio de Janeiro setting between the mountains and the sea are very spectacular UNESCO cites "a very beautiful location for one of the largest cities in the world" in naming Rio as a world heritage site. UNESCO awards not only for natural settings but also for the cultural landscape of urban and architectural fusion and green space plans that marked the growth of the city.
Rio de Janeiro is the second major city in Brazil and is the capital of the year 1763 until 1960, when Brasília was created. The city was founded by the Portuguese colony in the mid-1500s and became the port for the delivery of the gold mining area of the outback. Throughout its history, Rio seems aware of his physical assets-the mountains soaring behind it, the Sugar Loaf Mountain towering above its port, and long coastline which is its main tourist attractions-and has improved the landscaping it with buildings that are different from every era. Its history and with an inventory of city parks and the open are generous.
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1. Sugar Loaf
The most famous landmark of Rio de Janeiro is the Summit of Sugar Loaf Mountain, rising to 394 meters above the port. He was on the point of land projecting out into the Bay and wrapping its port, and connected to the city by land. You can take the cable car from Praça General Tibúrcio to the top of Morro da Urca, a lower peak from which the second railway line to the top of Sugar Loaf. From here, you can see the entire coast mountains that ring the Gulf and its islands. Below, the Beach Praia da Urca 100 metres was near the location of the original nucleus of the Rio, between Morro Cara de Cão and Sugar Loaf. In the way de Cão there are three forts, including Fort São João-shaped 16th-century stellar open to the public.
2. Cristo Redentor (Christ the Redeemer)
The giant statue of Christ overlooking the city from the top of Corcovado 709 metre cliffs almost extensively known as symbols of Rio as a form typical of the Sugar Loaf. The world famous landmark was erected between 1922 and 1931, almost entirely funded by the contributions of Catholics Brazil.
Art Deco statue was created by sculptor Paul Landowski-Poland France and built by the engineer Heitor da Silva Costa, Brazil, working with engineers France Albert Caquot. Made of reinforced concrete and soapstone, a figure itself as high as 30 meters with arms stretched 28 meters; It weighs 635 tons. In an eight-metre-tall base is a chapel, where it's not unusual to find the weddings and baptisms that took place. Corcovado train suitcase from Rua do Cosme Velho line all ascending the 3.5 kilometers towards the statue, through the Tijuca National Park.
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3. Carnaval (Carnival)
One of the celebration of the pre-Lenten's most famous in the world-which is also famous in Venice and New Orleans — takes place every winter in Rio de Janeiro. The celebration began shortly after the new year, but the grandeur and opulence reached its spectacular climax in the four days before Ash Wednesday, attracting hundreds of thousands of spectators to the parade street party, samba, and the inputs. Other Brazil cities celebrate Carnaval; It is also a major tourist event in Bahia and Recife, but Rio is the ultimate luxury.
The most spectacular event was the samba school parade, held in uniquely designed by famous architect Oscar Niemeyer Oscar. Sambódromo is a long parade route lined by stadium-style box designed so up to 50,000 spectators could watch the parade of brilliantly costumed dancers as they competed. The parade route along 700 meters and a width of 13 metres. It was first used in 1984 and is updated as the site for the 2016 Olympics.
4. Copacabana
Some cities are blessed with beautiful sand beaches in her heart, let alone extending four kilometres along one side of the city centre. A few steps from the golden age is Avenida Atlântica, Avenida Nossa Senhora de Copacabana, and paths in the surroundings where you will find the charming old buildings, luxury hotels, and popular restaurants and cafes. The King of the region no doubt, and the hotel Rio, is the famous Copacabana Palace, built in the 1920s and is now protected as a national monument. Showing the movie Flying Down to Rio 1933 and became host to royalty and movie-star glamour, the Copacabana Palace recall the power, wealth and elegance, while Rio became the capital of Brazil.
At the end of the beach, the Copacabana Fortress dating from 1914 and is the location of the rebellion of 1922, which took over the Fort and turn the artillery pieces in the city. A brief revolt ended the next day when the Government brought a warship to bombard the fortress. You can learn about this and other military history at the Museu Histórico do Exército (Army History Museum), which is now housed here. Outside, in the courtyard of the fortress, there are artillery pieces from the 19th century and early 20th century.
5. Tijuca National Park
Tijuca National Park protects the forests of Tijuca and several viewpoints overlooking the city, and surrounds the Cristo Redentor, the giant-sized giant statue on Corcovado. To explore the grounds, you can leave the train up to Corcovado at the midpoint and follow the path through the forest. Tijuca forest covering about 3,300 hectares, one of the world's largest forest within a city, planted in the late 1850 's in land that had been destroyed by coffee plantations, to protect the spring that supplies the water of Rio de Janeiro. Most of the trees are native species and providing habitat for monkeys, Capuchin quatis (raccoon Brazil), colorful toucans, hawks, brilliant blue butterfly, and many other wildlife species, you might see when you explore a path and way.
Near the train station of Corcovado is Largo do Boticário, one of Rio's most beautiful squares, surrounded by colonial-style houses. From the Pavilion-style pagoda in Morro da Vista Chinesa, 380 meters above the beach, is a view of the Garden City, the Botanical Garden, and a long stretch of the southern coast. There are more views from the Mirante Dona Marta, a point of view that spur the rock above the Bay of Botafogo. Several waterfalls coming down from the forest Springs, including the 30-meter Cascatinha Taunay. Set in large grounds near the Park is the Museu do Açude, with valuable porcelain collection of the West India Company; The old view of Rio de Janeiro by Brazil and foreign artists; And traditional Portuguese azulejos, tiles from the 17th century until the 19th century.
6. Escadaria Selarón
One of the latest tourist attraction in Rio began in 1990 by Chilean-born artist Jorge Selarón as rewards for people Brazil. Until his death in 2013, he traveled a long step in front of his house with mosaics made of tiles, pottery, and mirrors, many of the colors Blue, green, and yellow flag of Brazil. Selarón began using the damaged tiles so that he managed to escape from the scene of the construction and demolition of the old building, but when his pace caught the attention of tourists, the people began to bring pottery and tiles from around the world. Now the pieces from more than 60 countries represented in 250 steps, which include the 125 metre ladder. The steps are a popular film location and is featured in the video of Rio 2016 Olympic bid.
7. Ilha de Paquetá
The island of Paquetá, with an area of more than one square kilometers, is located on the Bay of Guanabara, an hour away by boat from Praça 15 de Novembro. It became a fashionable resort in the early 1800s, when the Portuguese Emperor Dom João VI spent the summer here (the colony of Brazil became the seat of the Portuguese Empire in 1808, when Napoleon's armies occupied Portugal). Solar del Rey, where the Palace of Dom João VI often stayed, is one of the attractive old building, which also includes the chapel of São Roque 1698 and House of José Bonifácio de Andrada e Silva, the father of independence of Brazil. There is no car that had invaded the island of peace, but you can explore it on foot, by bicycle, or by renting a horse-drawn carriage. The hands cover the island's beaches, where you will find a surprise grilling fresh fish food.
8. Passeio Público and Cinelândia
Stretching along the Avenida Beira-Mar, the Passeio Público is an attractive garden designed in 1779 by a group of artists. The oldest public park of Brazil and one of the oldest in America, filled with sculptures by Mestre Valentim and Pavilion with the painting by Leandro Joaquim, two garden designers. Baroque entrance, stone stairs, fountains, and sculptures of figures from mythology provides a focal point in this vast green space. To the East along the Gulf is the Parque do Flamengo Marina da Glória, and with gardens designed by Burle Marx, and the Monumento aos Mortos that modernist, a memorial for a World War II death. At the north end of Flamengo Park is the Museum of Modern Art.
Passeio Público is bordered by the districts of Cinelândia, one of the political and cultural center of Rio, filled with buildings of majestic public since the first decade of the 20th century, after the Rio de Janeiro became the capital of Brazil. Academia Brasileira de Letras (Literary Academy) occupies a building on Avenida Presidente Wilson, mimics the Petit Trianon at Versailles. It was donated to the city by the Government of France in 1923 to build a society that was founded at the end of the 19th century by a group of writers and poets inspired by the Académie Française. The purpose of the society is to protect the Portuguese Brazil and promoting literature in Brazil.
9. Ipanema and Leblon
Proceed along four kilometers from Copacabana, Ipanema and Leblon beaches separated by a stream of Jardim de Alá, which drain the lagoon, Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas. Along the promenade on the shores there are major hotels, sidewalk cafe, and restaurant. Both districts, though famous for its beaches (one of which is famous in the world with the Girl from Ipanema) has a lively cultural life, with art galleries, cinema, and theatre avant-garde. Praça de Quental in Leblon is where antique market every Sunday, and Praca General Osorio host Feira de Artesanato de Ipanema Sunday featuring crafts, music, art, and local food.
Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas lined by parkland and sports clubs, and its waters are very popular for regattas and other water sports. On the West side of the lagoon, Jardim Botânico (Botanical Garden) have more than 5,000 plant species from all over the world, including water lilies and other plants from the Amazon region.
10. Nossa Senhora do Carmo and Monte do Carmo
Parish Church of Nossa Senhora do Carmo is the Capela Real (Royal Chapel) from 1808 until 1889 and the Cathedral to modern buildings were replaced in 1976. Connected to it by a second Carmelite Church alley, Monte do Carmo, starting in 1755. Overview of Baroque facade is, the stone, and carved white and gold by Mestre Valentim in the chapel at Novitiat. the former Cathedral of 1761 rich decorated with carving and has a high altar of silver. On the side of the road is the chapel of Nossa Senhora do Cabo da Boa Esperança (our Lady of the Cape of good hope), the speech of the last street that still exists in the city.
11. Santa Tereza
A district with the steep streets and deserted houses and hundred-year-old, Santa Tereza Rio's environment is the most atmospheric. The Cafe and the restaurant is a favorite of artists and intellectuals that adds to the atmosphere of Bohemia. Although its greatest charm is found wandering in the jalanannya, often extending to the beautiful scenery, there are a few attractions to try, in between the Church and the convent of Santa Tereza, which originated in the year 1720. Museu Chácara do Céu has a collection of art. Especially modern works, including the works of Picasso, Miró, and Matisse, as well as statues of China from the 17th century until the 19th century. Parque das Ruínas adjacent is the shell of a socialite's House fell into disrepair and has been a place of art, music, and performances.
12. Quinta da Boa Vista
Gardens, villas, and palaces in the Imperial São Cristóvão is now a public park and museum, the leading edge is the Quinta da Boa Vista. From the year 1808 until 1889, the Palace was a royal residence and the imperial family and was later modified and rebuilt as Palácio de São Cristóvão. This home has a National Museum, which has a collection of Botany, zoology, ethnography, and archaeology of the largest in the country, with a population of over one million items. In the garden there is an expansive garden with Lakes, forests and caves, which you can reach by train. Also within the Park is a zoo with more than 2,000 species of mammals, birds, and reptiles from Brazil and around the world.
13. São Bento
On a hill just above the port was the Church and the São Bento monastery, the Benedictine complex one of the best in Brazil. The original 1617 church without the alley until it enlarged in the second half of the 17th century with the addition of eight side chapels. The best artists from the Benedictines engage in interior decoration. Carving merrily that covered the walls and ceilings were primarily the work of a monk named Domingos da Conceição, which is also responsible for the figures of St. Benedict and St. Scholastica in the high altar. Chapel Choir has silver work by Mestre Valentim and 14 paintings by Ricardo do Pilar, a Benedictine monk who was the leading painter of colonial Brazil. The work of Senhor dos Martírios, the magnitude of (Christ of the Passion), located in the sacristy of the monastery.
14. São Francisco da Penitência
Igreja da Ordem Terceira de São Francisco da Penitência is divided into three sections with separate entrances, and the simple façade of this church belies the wealth in it. The inner part, which began in 1657 and completed in 1773, was a riot of carved gilded with gold. Among those who contributed to the decoration of the interior was Manuel and Francisco Xavier de Brito, two leading Portuguese sculptor and wood carver. They have a very similar style, known as Brito, using decorative forms that affect Brazil's Baroque master Aleijadinho and others. The ceiling of the choir has a trompe-l'oeil earlier in Brazil, which was completed in 1736, the work of Caetano da Costa Coelho, who later painted the ceiling of the nave with the same style.
15. Catedral de São Sebastião
Architect Edgar Fonseca, who designed the new Cathedral of Rio, took her inspiration from the Mayan pyramid, interpreting them in the context of soaring shape. Built between 1964 and 1979 and is often referred to as the Cathedral Recently to distinguish it from its predecessor, the Nossa Senhora do Carmo church bodies, 5,000 inland 96 meter. Four stained glass Windows rises 64 metres from floor to light the interior with natural light shining. At night, the Church was lighted from within, a beacon of light on the horizon.
Places to stay in Rio de Janeiro for Sightseeing
Rio de Janeiro runs between the Bay and the mountains, its attractions so spread out so there is no comfortable environments for more than a few of them. Fortunately, the Rio Metro systems quickly and efficiently, so that the best hotels for tourists are in the environment of the beach of Copacabana and Ipanema, safely in the middle of restaurants and shops and is useful for Metro access. Another option is to Botafogo, a residential area adjacent to Copacabana, near the cable car to Sugarloaf. Here are some of the high-rated hotel in Rio de Janeiro.
Luxury hotels: Showing rooftop pools are wonderful, Miramar Hotel by Windsor right on Copacabana beach, where sun loungers and parasols are available to guests; It is a short walk from Ipanema beach. Belmond Copacabana Palace is an icon of the reputation of the Copacabana for sophistication and luxury, a place where movie stars and Duke basking in old world elegance. The rooftop pool at the JW Marriott Hotel Rio de Janeiro overlooking Copacabana beach (umbrella and chairs are provided for guests) and there is a spa and fitness centre.
Mid-range Hotel: a block from the beach, Ipanema Inn offers friendly, personal service in the middle of the dining atmosphere and the art of Ipanema. In a quiet street in the heart of Copacabana, Copacabana Sesc Hotel is one block from the beach and surrounded by restaurants and shops. Also on the beach, the Windsor Palace Hotel has an outdoor swimming pool, breakfast buffets, and a free airport shuttle.
Budget hotels: Ibis Copacabana Posto 5 is a few blocks from the beach and close to the Metro station, with many dining options nearby. Close to the Metro in Botafogo, one stop away from Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro Botafogo sits near the Sugarloaf cable cars. The Mercure Mourisco Botafogo, the room has a higher view of Christ the Redeemer on the Corcovado.
Day trips from Rio de Janeiro
Petrópolis
Petrópolis, 68 kilometers from Rio de Janeiro, located in the wooded valley of the Serra dos Órgãos and chosen by King Pedro II of Brazil as a summer home. Aristocrats soon followed, building palaces and their own summer Villa and make upscale resort became Petrópolis. It later became a favorite of artists and intellectuals and a popular tourist destination for its beautiful buildings and a pleasant climate throughout the year. Currently, the former Summer Palace is the Imperial Museum, filled with memorabilia from the time of the Empire of Brazil. Its also noteworthy is the Cathedral of Saint Peter of Alcântara, Crystal Palace, and the home of aviation pioneer Santos-Dumont.