Located on the southeast coast of Brazil, at the entrance to Guanabara Bay, Rio de Janeiro is embraced by forested mountains with the statue of Christ the Redeemer on one side and the waves of the Atlantic Ocean on the other. Many cities lie on the ocean, but Rio de Janeiro literally grows out of it, with about 50 km of coastline with beautiful beaches. The unique landscape makes Rio de Janeiro truly one of the most beautiful cities in the world, justifying the name “Wonderful City”. Skyscrapers rival colonial buildings of impeccable architectural beauty. A cosmopolitan city that was the capital of Brazil for almost 200 years, Rio de Janeiro remains one of the country’s main cultural centers and is the cradle of three types of Brazilian music: choro, samba and bosanova.
The city’s economy is mainly made up of companies subordinate to the tourist infrastructure, as well as manufacturers of chemicals, pharmaceuticals, beverages, textiles and building materials. In addition, the city is a key financial center and home to many head offices of world-renowned companies such as: Coca-Cola, Royal Dutch Shell, El Paso, Esso, IBM, Petrobras, EBX.
“January River” is the translation of the name of Brazil’s greatest city, Rio de Janeiro. Rio de Janeiro has a fascinating ancient history, beginning in the 16th century with pirates, natives, and noble nobles. The city was founded in March 1565 on the 1st, and was originally called San Sebastião de Rio de Janeiro, after the Portuguese King Sebastião I. The thickets of pau brasil trees found along this coast, whose valuable red wood was used to make musical instruments and expensive furniture, are now considered a national symbol of Brazil. The city was built as a military base in opposition to the French, and was repeatedly attacked by them.
The growth of the city’s population began around 1690, when gold was discovered in Minas Gerais, and Rio de Janeiro became a natural port for transporting it to Europe. By 1763 the city had a population of 50,000 and the colonial administration from Salvador de Bahia was transferred here. The city’s importance reached its peak in 1808, with the immigration of the Portuguese royal court, forced to flee Portugal after Napoleon’s invasion. This fact made Rio de Janeiro the capital of a European state outside Europe. The population by then was about 65,000. This was a golden period for the city, as Don Juan VI initiated the construction of many buildings in the city, such as the Royal Library, the Royal School of Sciences, Arts and Crafts. A botanical garden was laid out and the city’s infrastructure was improved.
One of the leading areas for the city was agriculture – the cultivation of sugar cane, which remains one of the main areas of Brazil to this day, along with the cultivation of coffee plantations and the export of coffee.
By the end of the 19th century the city’s population had literally exploded due to European immigration and internal immigration (mostly former slaves). And by 1890 Rio de Janeiro boasted a population of over a million people, where a quarter were foreigners. Today, the population is more than 6 million, and the population of the surrounding areas is more than 7 million.
Rio de Janeiro is divided into three main areas: central, southern, and northern. When the city is described as sandy beaches, mountains and ocean, this is essentially what the South Zone is called. The most famous landmarks located here are Sugar Loaf Mountain and the statue of Christ the Redeemer, erected in 1930 and known for its amazing and miraculous stories – the calling cards of Rio de Janeiro, and perhaps even of Brazil. It is an affluent neighborhood known for its Copacabana, Ipanema and Leblon beaches. This area, with the advent of multifamily high-rise buildings, has become one of the most densely populated areas of Brazil.
The central area, it is also the business district, the center of the city, the shopping, banking and business center. This is the original location of Rio de Janeiro. This is where the municipal government and public institutions are located. More than 30 major museums are located in the central zone. During the modernization of the city’s municipal infrastructure, the original buildings of colonial architecture were destroyed here.
The Northern Zone includes the main port areas, and the industrial area of Rio de Janeiro. Brazil’s main imports and exports pass through the port: iron ore, manganese, coffee, cotton, hides and meat. The zone is located north and west of the central zone, along the border of Guanabara Bay to the east. It is home to Brazil’s second-largest airport, just 13 kilometers from the city, and the main Maracana Stadium, which can accommodate 200,000 fans.
There is a saying that “to see everything in Rio de Janeiro, you have to move here forever. The city is literally flooded with cultural and historical sites of interest to visit. The Republican Museum, the National Monument for victims of World War II, the Neo Classical Museum, the Indian Museum, the Villa Lobos Museum and many others are their treasures for those who love history and culture. The Museum of Modern Art (Museu de Arte Moderna) and the National Museum of Fine Arts (Museu Nacional de Belas Artes) are for lovers of the art of painting. It features the largest collection of paintings in the world, dating back to the 15th century. The planetarium and the city park also invite visitors to see the sights of the city. There are two military museums – Fortaleza Santa Cruz and Copacabana Fort-each displays information and artifacts from all of Rio de Janeiro’s military conflicts. For theater buffs, Carmen Miranda Museum offers an exhibition of costumes, belongings, the 1940s Hollywood star, as well as a film library and information about her life.
The botanical garden, known for its alley of palm trees, exotic animal and bird collections, has over 7,000 specimens of plants and is considered one of the best gardens in the world.
Examples of modern Brazilian architecture in Rio de Janeiro include the Ministry of Education, the Brazilian headquarters of the Press Association, and the Museum of Modern Art. Educational institutions include: The University, the Military and Naval Academies, and the Biological Research Center. Famous churches include the ornate 18th-century Candelaria Church, the Church of Nosa Senhora da Gloria, a 17th-century Franciscan monastery, and a 16th-century Benedictine monastery.
Rio de Janeiro is no doubt famous for its famous carnival. Hundreds of thousands of people attend the carnival every year, held for four days in February. The city is thrilled by the euphoric colors of the carnival costumes, music and dancing. Other notable events taking place in the city include:
New Year’s Eve celebrations. There are musical performances and music on the stages of the city. People dressed in white gather on Copacabana Beach to say goodbye to the passing, and welcome the arrival of the new year. The event culminates with fireworks over the ocean;
Campfire Festival. A celebration of Brazilian folklore, held with lighted bonfires throughout the city;
Brazil’s Independence Day. Numerous cultural and sporting events take place in the city during this time.
Rio de Janeiro is characterized by water sports, including water skiing, paragliding, scuba diving, and windsurfing. Locals spend hours playing soccer on the beaches.
The city is famous for its active nightlife with its bars, stores, hotels, strip clubs, numerous restaurants and jazz. The beach clubs of Leblon, Ipanema and Copacabana districts are the most popular places to spend entertaining evenings and nights.
