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Culture of Rio de Janeiro. Places to visit - old town, temples, theaters, museums and palaces
Rio is home to numerous historical monuments. The city features some really unique natural attractions and widest choice of museums and galleries. An excursion to the rock called "Sugar head” (Pan de Asugar) is very popular among travellers. The height of the rock is 395 feet, and there are many interesting legends connected with its unusual name. Don’t forget to visit Largo do Boticário square as many beautiful architectural monuments are located near it. All houses, which you will see in this part of the city, were built in the 18th century. A beautiful fountain is the main decoration of the square. The fountain is also the place where gather street performers and musicians. During the daytime tourists come to the square to watch their performances, and at night the fountain is a popular place among romantic couples.
Rio Design Hotel is one of the most popular and prestigious designer hotels in Rio de Janeiro. The hotel is open not far from Copacabana Beach. The decor of this stunning hotel is the result … 
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Fans of luxury will have to search long to find a suitable place for a comfortable stay. They are recommended to pay attention to the luxurious beach hotel Rio Othon Palace. It is open on … Open
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In the everlasting festive city is located the most futuristic church called Catedral Metropolitana de São Sebastião. The building was constructed in the year 1979 in honor of the patron Saint of Rio St. Sebastian, in the style of modernism. When it comes to appearance, the cathedral is similar to ziggurat and Edgar Fonseca was the architect. The idea behind it was to create a building that would be modern, and resembled the Mayan pyramid – and I must say, it really happened. Speaking of other more traditional cathedrals, it is worth noting the rich decoration of Igreja São José. The church is built in the Baroque style, embodying all the splendor and grandiosity of style.
Guests of Rio de Janeiro will have an opportunity to spend several days in a real old castle if they decide to stop at the truly unique Castelo Valentim. The magnificent castle with high … Open
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Rio is called a city of contrasts for good reason – slums can be located next to a rich area. So it happened with the Favela Santa Marta, where the rich Botafogo quarter and the Copacabana beach are located close to each other. And, if you walk along the slums, pictures of Michael Jackson’s cult music video “They don’t care about us” inevitably comes to mind. This is a very spectacular place. However, like in all areas of Rio, it is not advisable to stay here late, and it is also definitely not worth wandering alone about it. But generally speaking, it is thanks to Michael Jackson and his music video filming here that the region of Favola (the so-called Brazilian slums) is now well-maintained, and is not unnecessarily excessively unsafe. It is no wonder that you can find a monument to the pop king here. 
City tours, excursions and tickets in Rio de Janeiro and surroundings
Plan your own excursion through Rio de Janeiro: churches, museums and castles
Christ the Redeemer, Rio de Janeiro
Location on the map: 
Facts:
» Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro is one of the most famous and popular monuments in the world. It even was chosen to be one of the New Seven Wonders of the World in 2007. Facts:» The Christ statue sits atop Corcovado Mountain in Rio de Janeiro; that’s the symbol of Rio de Janeiro and Brazil as a whole.
» The height of the statue with pedestal is 38 meters, and arm span is 28 meters.
» Being the highest point of the county, the statue becomes a regular target of lightning, so the Catholic Diocese specifically stores the stone used for construction of the statue to repair damaged parts of it.
» Annually not less than 1.8 million tourists climb to the foot of the statue that offers panoramic view of the city and the bay. The picturesque Sugarloaf Mountain, famous beaches of Copacabana and Ipanema, and a huge bowl of the Maracana Stadium are seen from there.
Maracana Stadium, Rio de Janeiro
Location on the map: Facts:
» The Maracana Stadium is the largest football stadium in Brazil. Facts:» The stadium was built for the World Cup in 1950 and has long been the most spacious football stadium in the world.
» The maximum capacity of the stadium is still unknown. According to various sources, it's from 180,000 to 200,000 places.
» The official name of the venue is Mario Filho. This name was in honor of the sports journalist who wrote a book about football; he was the founder of the famous sports magazine, talked with many players and has been closely involved in the construction of the stadium.
» Flamengo and Fluminense, as well as Brazil's national team of all ages hold games at the stadium.
Quinta da Boa Vista, Rio de Janeiro
Location on the map: Facts:
» Quinta da Boa Vista is the palace and the park complex that embraces Sao Cristovao Palace, the park and the zoo of Rio de Janeiro. Facts:» The Palace houses the National Museum of Brazil.
» The museum's collection is very diverse (from insects to Aboriginal utensils).
» The zoo is the most memorable part of the complex.
» The zoo was built in 1945, so that's the oldest zoo in Brazil. About 2,000 different animals live there.
Candelaria Church, Rio de Janeiro
Location on the map: Facts:
» According to the legend, the Candelaria Church was built in the 17th century by Spanish master Antonio Palma. Facts:» He and his crew sailed on Candelaria ship and got into a terrible storm. In honor of salvation in 1609 they built a small chapel dedicated to Our Lady of Candelaria.
» During the following centuries, the church has being altering and changing its appearance. Therefore, it combines a variety of styles, from Baroque to Neo-Classicism.
» As for the interior, in 1878 it was decorated in style Italian Neo-Renaissance.
» Today you can listen to classical and sacred music, and attend a church service in the Candelaria Church.
Rio de Janeiro Cathedral, Rio de Janeiro
Location on the map: Facts:
» The Rio de Janeiro Cathedral was built in 1976 in honor of the patron saint of the city, San Sebastian. Facts:» The construction is very atypical for temples. It's built in form of a truncated cone with a diameter of 106 meters and a height of 96 meters.
» Architect Edgar de Oliveira designing the cathedral was inspired by Mayan pyramids in Mexico; however, the temple was designed in modern style.
» The interior of the cathedral is striking with its beauty and monumentality.
» In addition to the cathedral, you can visit the Sacred Art Museum situated in the basement. It represents a collection of different objects and works of art.
This guide to cultural sights Rio de Janeiro is protected by the copyright law. You can re-publish this content with mandatory attribution: direct and active hyperlink to www.orangesmile.com.
What to visit during two-day excursion in Rio de Janeiro
Christ the Redeemer
Where: Corcovado Mountain, Rio de Janeiro; Telephone: +55 21 2541 7522 (Tourist Office);
Where: Corcovado Mountain, Rio de Janeiro; Telephone: +55 21 2541 7522 (Tourist Office);
Sugar Loaf
Where: Near Copacabana Beach, Rio de Janeiro; Telephone: +55 21 2461 2700;
Where: Near Copacabana Beach, Rio de Janeiro; Telephone: +55 21 2461 2700;
Rio de Janeiro Carnival
Where: Sambodromo and venues throughout Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro; Telephone: +55 2271 7121/ 713 (Tourist Office);
Where: Sambodromo and venues throughout Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro; Telephone: +55 2271 7121/ 713 (Tourist Office);
Rio Jazz Festival
Where: Venues throughout Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro; Telephone: +55 2271 7121/ 713 (Tourist Office);
Where: Venues throughout Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro; Telephone: +55 2271 7121/ 713 (Tourist Office);
Rio de Janeiro´s Beaches
Telephone: +55 21 2266-9750 (Tourist Office);
Telephone: +55 21 2266-9750 (Tourist Office);
Reference information
Map of all palaces
Public palaces near Rio de Janeiro
♥ Palace 'Palácio de São Cristóvão' , 1.1 km from the center. On the map
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♥ Palace 'Palácio das Indústrias' , 2 km from the center. On the map
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♥ Palace 'Palácio do Itamaraty' , 4.7 km from the center. On the map
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♥ Palace 'Palácio do Lavradio' , 5.3 km from the center. On the map
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♥ Palace 'Paço Imperial' , 6.1 km from the center. On the map
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♥ Palace 'Palácio Gustavo Capanema' , 6.2 km from the center. On the map
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♥ Palace 'Palácio São Joaquim' , 6.2 km from the center. On the map
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Map of all art museums
Art galleries in Rio de Janeiro and around
♥ Art museum 'Museu Nacional de Belas Artes' Rio de Janeiro, 6 km from the center. On the map
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♥ Art museum 'Museum of Modern Art Rio de Janeiro(MAM)' Rio de Janeiro, 6.5 km from the center. On the map
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♥ Art museum 'Niterói Contemporary Art Museum' Niterói, 11 km from the center. On the map
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Map of all churches
Cathedrals and basilicas near Rio de Janeiro
♥ Igreja de Santa Casa de Misericórdia, São Cristóvão, 2.6 km from the center. On the map
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♥ Santuário Basílica de São Sebastião, Rio de Janeiro, 2.8 km from the center. On the map
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♥ Basílica do Imaculado Coração de Maria, Rio de Janeiro, 4.5 km from the center. On the map
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♥ Igreja de Nossa Senhora do Rosário e São Benedito, Rio de Janeiro, 5.4 km from the center. On the map
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♥ Catedral Metropolitana São Sebastião, Rio de Janeiro, 5.5 km from the center. On the map
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♥ Abadia de Nossa Senhora do Monserrate, Rio de Janeiro, 5.7 km from the center. On the map
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♥ Igreja da Irmandade da Santa Cruz dos Militares, Rio de Janeiro, 5.9 km from the center. On the map
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Photogallery of cultural heritage of Rio de Janeiro
Landmarks of culture on Rio de Janeiro map: art-galleries, monuments, palaces, etc
Culture guide to Rio de Janeiro. Which fascinating sights to visit once you are in Rio de Janeiro: temples, churches, museums, theaters and castles. Recommendations (with addresses, phone numbers and links) on the places 'must visit' in Rio de Janeiro. Plan your own city excursion by using this page info!
