Rio de Janeiro has long and rich history. After the short French period, in 1567 the Portuguese started to live there. At first, the city grew with a very slow speed, till on the territory of Brazil they found gold. In 1763-1960 Rio de Janeiro was the capital of the country, but in 1960 this honor was given to Brasilia. In the end of the 19th century thanks to the mass emigration from Europe and local villages the population of Rio started growing very quickly. At this very time such famous areas, as Copacabana and Ipanema appeared. It's also the time of birth of 'favelas', well-known quarters for the poor.
The special beauty of Rio de Janeiro can be mostly explained by its wonderful location: it takes place along the endless coast with marvelous beaches and rocky hills. At present day Rio de Janeiro has the population of 7 million people and it makes it one of the most populous cities in the world. The natives are friendly, self-confident and crazy about music, nightlife and, of course, football.
Copacabana and Ipanema Beaches. Beach life in Rio is a real art, which can be learnt in a moment. Show everything you can do – it's the motto of the world-famous Copacabana and Ipanema Beaches. The other thing why the natives come to the beach is to laze in the sun, listen to music, do surf-riding and play football or volleyball. Copacabana is the most popular beach. The largest hotels are situated there. The international beau-monde mostly prefers Ipanema and Leblon, the posh outskirts of Rio. Admission there is free. Endless boulevards along the beaches are full of music, bars and restaurants.
Read further: Rio de Janeiro cityguide
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