Rio de Janeiro literally meaning River of January ' in Portuguese is a city as well a state, located in the southeastern part of Brazil. Rio de Janeiro served as the erstwhile capital of the Portuguese Empire from 1808-1821 and Brazil from 17631960.
Popularly known as Rio , this south eastern city is also dubbed as A Cidade Maravilhosa meaning The Marvelous City'. Rio de Janeiro is the second-largest city of Brazil after Sao Paulo and interestingly the occupants of this city are known as Cariocas.
Rio de Janeiro is a prime tourist destination and enthralls travelers with its picturesque natural backdrop, grand Carnival celebrations, stunning beaches like Copacabana , Leblon and Ipanema bordered with world-class hotels and resorts. The city also has remarkable landmarks like Christ the Redeemer , Sambodromo , Sugarloaf Mountain and et al. Rio de Janeiro also boasts of housing the largest stadium of the world- Maracana stadium and the globe's biggest forest within an urban area- Floresta da Tijuca .
The Rio de Janeiro city is divided into four parts- the historical downtown, the South Zone, the North Zone and the West Zone. Some places of interests within this colossal city that are worth visiting are Candelaria Church , Paço Imperial , Museu Nacional de Belas Artes , Passeio Publico , Floresta da Pedra Branca (White Rock Forest), Manguinhos, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz and lots more.
Apart from these Rio de Janeiro has also become world famous for it festivities, Carnivals and cultural celebrations. These illustrious Rio de Janeiro festivals include Escolas de Samba , Cordao does Bola Preta , Suvaco do Cristo , Carmelitas , Simpatia e Quase Amor and so on. Among these, the most famous is the carnival that is observed two weeks before the Christian fasting of Lent. The place is filled with Samba and varied forms of music, the aroma of delectable delicacies, colors and festive spirit. This Rio de Janeiro Carnival is cited as the greatest party on earth' .
The New Year celebrations in Rio de Janeiro also attract hordes of crowds with its amazing firework exhibits and various concerts and to top it all Rio de Janeiro offers a vibrant night-life.
