Attractions in Rio de Janeiro: Top 20

Rio de Janeiro Attractions: Top 20

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A carnival city that captivates with a riot of bright colors, hot South American sun and warm ocean… It is easy to guess that we are talking about Rio de Janeiro, a city generously rewarded by nature itself. Not without reason in Rio they believe that these lands were given to the inhabitants by the Almighty. In turn, the inhabitants of these lands gratefully accepted this gift, ennobled and decorated it so that now the sights of Rio de Janeiro amaze with their splendor, beauty and diversity. Everyone who arrives in this sunny land finds something to see in Rio de Janeiro, choosing something impressive and interesting just for himself.

What to see in Rio de Janeiro in the first place

The holiday city is famous for its beaches, magnificent nature, cozy parks, interesting museums and beautiful cathedrals. But what to see in Rio de Janeiro in 1 day, if your eyes run wide from this splendor? Where to go so that even the shortest trip leaves vivid memories for a lifetime? In order to simplify the upcoming choice, the top top attractions in Rio de Janeiro have been compiled briefly.

1. Christ the Redeemer Statue

Rio de Janeiro Attractions: Top 20

Statue of Christ the Redeemer with outstretched arms on top of Corcovado mountain in Rio de Janeiro

The most important symbol of the city, revered not only by residents, but also by guests of the city, is the 38-meter monument of the Savior, located on the very top of Mount Corcovado. Every year, millions of tourists climb a mountain more than 700 meters high to the foot of the monument. From here you can appreciate all the greatness of the statue, and looking around you can also see how beautiful the surrounding panorama is. The very idea to erect a monument arose in the 16th century, but due to lack of sufficient technical capabilities, it was postponed indefinitely. Only at the beginning of the 20th century, work began on the construction of the monument, and 10 years later its grand opening took place.

Official website: https://en.cristoredentoroficial

2. Copacabana Beach

Rio de Janeiro Attractions: Top 20

Coastline Copacabana city beach in Rio de Janeiro

This is a beach famous all over the world. The 4-kilometer strip of sandy beach within the city has become so notable for the fact that it is here, like nowhere else, that the spirit of Brazilian culture is reflected: the beach hosts numerous public holidays and incendiary parties, in which celebrities and simply beautiful people from all over the world participate . This is the place of chic restaurants and hotels in Rio de Janeiro, luxurious beachfront cottages and penthouses, which are so popular with the European elite.

3. Sugarloaf

Attractions Rio de Janeiro: Top 20

View of Pan de Azucar in Rio de Janeiro

Within Rio there is another notable mountain called “Sugarloaf”, which has a peculiar shape. It is the similarity of its outlines to a large piece of sugar that gave rise to such a name. The mountain seems to rush up, towering over the waters of Guanabara Bay. An observation deck is equipped on its top, which can only be reached by cable car – the mountain is surrounded by an impenetrable dense forest. From the top you have an impressive view of the sea, beaches, city blocks, as well as the statue of Christ, which looks especially beautiful from here.

Official website: http://www.bondinho< /p>

4. Municipal Theater

Rio de Janeiro Attractions: Top 20

The Municipal Theater was built at the beginning of the 20th century on Maréchal Floriano Square in Rio de Janeiro

Piazza Floriano is located in the very heart of the city, the decoration of which is the building of the Municipal Theatre. The unusual facade of the theater with an abundance of decorative elements is a mixture of architectural styles. Despite its name, the theater does not belong to the city authorities, but is closely connected with the development of the city: the building was erected as an element of the architectural ensemble created in the process of redevelopment of one of the streets. Since its opening in 1909, the theater has undergone many reconstructions, was equipped with new elevators and lighting equipment. The theater stage has become a venue for performances by famous foreign groups, symphony orchestras and ballet companies.

5. National Museum of Fine Arts

Attractions Rio de Janeiro: Top 20

Main facade of the National Museum of Fine Arts in Rio de Janeiro Dornicke

The rating continues with the museum, which keeps a valuable collection of works of national art – sculptures, paintings, works of arts and crafts. Despite the fact that the museum itself was opened in 1937, the beginning of the collection was laid much earlier: in the 19th century, the royal court of Portugal moved to Brazil, and the Portuguese king brought with him part of the collection from the royal house. The external architecture of the museum is eclectic, as the architectural plan has changed several times during the construction. Today, the collection includes about 20 thousand works, including a collection of drawings, engravings, paintings by foreign artists, including famous Italian masters of painting.

Official website: http://www.mnba

See the beautiful places of Rio de Janeiro in this wonderful video!

6. Museum of Modern Art

Attractions Rio de Janeiro: Top 20

Building of the Museum of Modern Art in the Flamengo Public Park Halley Pacheco de Oliveira

When choosing what to visit in Rio de Janeiro from the “young” sights, you should definitely set aside time for a museum of modern art. It is famous not only for its exposition, but for its unusual appearance. The graceful building is decorated in a kind of futuristic style in the form of a giant bowl on a thin leg. Around the entire circumference of this “bowl” are large panoramic windows overlooking the city. A long, curved and slightly sloping road leads to the entrance to the museum. The extraordinary museum opened its doors in 1996, and the basis of its exposition is the collection of the famous collector Joan Sattamini.

7. Portuguese Royal Library

Attractions Rio de Janeiro: Top 20

Interior of the reading room of the Portuguese Royal Library Mayumi Ishikawa

This is one of the most recognizable libraries in the city. The institution was founded in 1837, but was opened to the general public only by 1900. The facade in the style of the Gothic Renaissance, decorated with medallions, is complemented by 4 sculptures of the great personalities of Portugal – three navigators and a poet. The interior of the library is represented by an abundance of amazingly beautiful decorative elements made of carved wood, a luxurious wrought-iron chandelier hanging from a dome lined with mosaics complements the surroundings. Even more impressive is the huge number of books that filled the shelves from floor to ceiling – in total there are more than 350 thousand publications.

8. Ilha-Fiskal Castle

Attractions Rio de Janeiro: Top 20

Ilha Fiscal Castle on a small island in Guanabara Bay off the coast of Rio de Janeiro Diego Baravelli

Rio de Janeiro Attractions: Top 20

The central facade of the Ilha-Fiskal castle with a 20-meter clock tower Juliana Swenson

The tiny island of Fiscal is known for its extraordinary castle. According to numerous reviews, many who saw this palace for the first time associate it with fairy tales about princesses and valiant knights. No one would have thought that the Brazilian customs service is located within the walls of a beautiful castle. More than half a million travelers make the trip to Fiscal every year just to admire the spellbinding architecture of the castle. In addition to the customs house itself, within the walls of the castle there is a museum dedicated to the history of the navy. The main tower of the castle is decorated with an illuminated clock, which has become the main reference point for sailors arriving in Guanabara Bay.

9. Tiradentes Palace

Rio de Janeiro Attractions: Top 20< /p> Statue of Joaquín José da Silva Xavier (Tiradentes) in front of the entrance to the Legislative Assembly building

The eclectic castle of the early 20th century, built for administrative purposes, was the seat of the Legislative Assembly. This name was given in honor of one of the national heroes – Tiradentes, a fighter for the country's independence, who was executed after serving in prison. The prison, where the famous figure whiled away his term, was once located on the site of this palace. His glory is immortalized in a monument erected right in front of the building. Today, within the walls of the palace, you can admire French mosaics, see paintings by famous Brazilian painters and antique Portuguese furniture.

10. Selaron Stairs

Rio de Janeiro Attractions: Top 20< /p> Created by Chilean artist Jorge Selarón, the 125-meter multicolored staircase

Excursions to Rio de Janeiro rarely do without a visit to the Selaron stairs – this creation is simply impossible to go unnoticed. The bright staircase, already attracting attention from afar with its multicolor, has gained worldwide fame thanks to the work of the Chilean artist Selaron. In 1990, he decided to restore the old staircase that started right outside his house. Over time, this modest project grew to an impressive scale and dragged on for 23 years, ending with the death of the artist. The 250 steps of the staircase are decorated with over 2,000 pieces of red, yellow, blue and green tiles brought from around the world.

11. Candelaria Church

The Church of the Virgin in Candelaria among modern urban buildings Donatas Dabravolskas

Attractions Rio de Janeiro: Top 20

The interior of the Candelaria church in Rio de JaneiroFulviusbsas ​​

During the colonial period, this landmark of Brazil was the largest Catholic church in the country. The beautiful architecture of the church still surprises with its beauty today. In fact, several styles were involved in the design of the facade at once – from baroque to neoclassical. The very history of the appearance of the temple is connected with the legend of the ship Candelaria, which in 1609 fell into a severe storm. The sailors of the ship during the disaster vowed to build a chapel if the Almighty spared their lives. The storm soon subsided, and the rescued sailors fulfilled their promise and erected a wooden chapel. Later, in the 18th century, on the site of a dilapidated chapel, the beautiful stone church of Candelaria was erected.

Official website: http://mapadecultura.

12. Cathedral of St. Sebastian

Attractions Top 20 in Rio de Janeiro

Cone-shaped Cathedral of St. Sebastian in the city center Halley Pacheco de Oliveira

Rio de Janeiro Attractions: Top 20

Rectangular stained-glass windows in the interior of the Cathedral of St. Sebastian chensiyuan

The sights of Rio de Janeiro sometimes surprise with their unusualness – one of the striking examples is the Church of St. Sebastian, located in the heart of the city. Seeing this building for the first time, perhaps, not a single tourist will recognize it as a cathedral – its architecture is so uncharacteristic. The cathedral was erected in a modernist style in honor of the patron saint of the city by an architect inspired by the ancient Mayan pyramids. The construction is distinguished by a large area – 106 meters in diameter, an impressive height – almost 100 meters, and can accommodate up to 2 thousand worshipers at a time. The interior decoration is also impressive: high mosaic windows let in sunlight, magically colored in different colors of the mosaic itself.

13. Monastery of St. Benedict

Rio de Janeiro Attractions: Top 20

Catholic Monastery of Saint Benedict on Morro de Sau Bento Halley Pacheco de Oliveira

Sights of Rio de Janeiro: Top 20

Interior decoration of the monastery of St. Benedict Halley Pacheco de Oliveira

The ancient monastery in the historical part of the city was built by the monks of the Order of St. Benedict in the 16th century. A century later, the buildings of the monastery were rebuilt by the Portuguese in a new style of aesthetic mannerism, and it is in this form that the shrine has survived to this day. The monastery still operates today; a number of educational institutions operate on its territory. The austerity of the facade surprisingly contrasts with the interior, which is characterized by an abundance of carvings and gold. Within the walls of the monastery there is also a functioning museum with one of the best Brazilian collections of religious artifacts.

14. Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden

Rio de Janeiro Attractions: Top 20

View of Christ the Redeemer Statue from Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden JERRYE AND ROY KLOTZ MD

The “Green Zone” of the city, where guides in Rio de Janeiro will take you to escape from the bustle of the metropolis, will give you a long-awaited rest and a charge of new forces. On 140 hectares of the garden, you can see more than 6 thousand species of tropical and subtropical plants, including rare and endangered species. In addition to exotic plants and beautiful flowers, small representatives of the fauna live here – birds, small monkeys, lizards, squirrels, etc. While walking through the garden, you can meet a number of archeological monuments, as well as visit the scientific center, which has the country's largest library of botanical books.

15. Flamengo Park

Attractions Rio de Janeiro: Top 20

Flamengo Park – urban recreation area in Rio de Janeiro Eduardo P

This picturesque park with beaches along Guanabara Bay is very popular with travelers and locals alike. It is a large recreation area of ​​120 hectares, on the territory of which several thousand species of trees grow. Compared to the noisy beaches of Rio, the beaches of Flamengo resemble a real oasis in the shade of sprawling crowns. A dense network of pedestrian and bicycle paths has been laid here, which makes the park ideal for leisurely walks. Not without local attractions – such as the Museum of Modern Art and a museum dedicated to the life and work of Carmen Miranda.

Sights of Rio de Janeiro: what else to visit in Rio de Janeiro?

The magnetism of Rio, its beauty and southern temperament make you want to come back here again. The traveler, coming to the Brazilian capital not for the first time, is looking for where to go to Rio de Janeiro in order to repeat those vivid emotions experienced during the first meeting. And, of course, there are many such places – in addition to those that have already been described in this article. Other interesting sights of Rio de Janeiro, photos with names and descriptions are given below.

16. Carioca Aqueduct

Attractions Rio de Janeiro: Top 20

Since the end of the 19th century, the aqueduct arches have served as a bridge for the popular St. Teresa Thad Roan tram

It has been planned to build a canal in the city for the delivery of fresh water since the 17th century. Construction attempts at that time constantly turned into technical and material difficulties, and only a century later the construction of the aqueduct began a new round. As a result, after another 20 years, residents already had the opportunity to receive clean water from the Carioca River in several parts of the city. Later, the aqueduct was rebuilt, enlarged, and it began to simultaneously serve as a bridge – today a tram rides on it, intended mainly for tourists who want to see as many city attractions as possible.

17. Maracana Stadium

Attractions Rio de Janeiro: Top 20

Panorama of Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro Daniel Basil

The great football nation has the best football stadiums, which are distinguished by perfect technical equipment and large capacity. One of Rio de Janeiro's best attractions, the Maracanã, Brazil's largest football arena, is a world-famous stadium, the very heart of the legendary Brazilian football. It is here that the most important events in the history of world football take place. The stadium has a capacity of about 80,000 seats. Although, according to some reports, there were sometimes so many people who wanted to cheer for their favorite team that up to 180 thousand people gathered at the stadium! This made Maracana a Guinness World Record holder.

18. Ipanema Beach

Attractions Rio de Janeiro: Top 20

The famous Ipanema beach surrounded by prestigious areas of Rio de Janeiro Joonasl

As for a beach holiday, the next part of the recommendations is for one of the most popular beaches in Brazil, after Copacabana. Luxury cottages, multi-star hotels, museum galleries, boutiques, elite nightclubs and restaurants – all this is concentrated on one of the most prestigious beaches in the city. This is a place of serene relaxation and active entertainment – surfing, football, volleyball and even capoeira. Between games and relaxation, you can cool off with a glass or two of soft drink, or go in for cultural tourism.

19. Tijuca National Park

Rio de Janeiro Attractions: Top 20

Tourists in Tijuca National Park in Rio de Janeiro

This is a real natural treasure, the largest forest in the area around Rio de Janeiro. It is in the territories of the Tijuca National Park that the most symbolic sights are located – Mount Corcovado, which offers stunning panoramas of the city and its surroundings, as well as the statue of Christ – one of the seven new wonders of the world, located on top of Corcavado. There are also several picturesque waterfalls and one and a half hundred hiking trails, a walk along which will allow you to visit the most stunning beauty, interesting places – observation platforms, mountain peaks with wonderful views, ancient chapels, man-made decorative ponds and bridges.

20. Carnival

Rio de Janeiro Attractions: Top 20

Huge moving platform at the carnival in Rio de Janeiro Ian Gampon

Attractions Rio de Janeiro: Top 20

Cars with Samba School Dancers at Rio de Janeiro Carnival Fernando Frazão/Agência Brasil

Rio de Janeiro Attractions: Top 20< /p>Carnival participant in Rio de Janeiro Agência Brasil Fotografias

In February, when Brazil is at the height of summer, the whole country turns into an extravaganza of magnificent and colorful celebration – of course, this is the carnival in Rio. The city, embraced by the intoxicating rhythms of irresistible samba, makes a procession along a special alley surrounded by spectator stands. Watching this spectacle, full of delight and joy, it is hard to believe that every step of this procession was perfected by the dancers throughout the year. After all, the goal of the speakers is not only to win the hearts of the audience, but also to impress the judging panel, which strictly evaluates the performance. Carnival in Rio is a kind of milestone, followed by a 40-day Lent.

The temperamental city of samba, beautiful nature, the best beaches and football has an original and memorable image. The inhabitants of Rio are distinguished by simplicity, carelessness and ease in communication, infecting everyone with their cheerful mood. Therefore, staying in Rio de Janeiro, you feel at home and remain fascinated by this fabulous city forever.

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