Cultural Tourism:
The History Of Rio De Janeiro

Corcovado & Christ The Redeemer: World Wonders

Indeed, Christ the Redeemer (known as Cristo Redentor in Portuguese) is visible from almost anywhere in Rio and has been since it debuted in 1931, after about a decade of construction. However, the best place to get a sense of the 100-foot tall statue's magnificence is at its base atop Corcovado Mountain — and not just so you can get the famous photo pose with your own arms outstretched.

The view from the 2,310-foot summit of Corcovado is absolutely legendary, offering a panorama of the aforementioned Sugarloaf Mountain, as well as the beaches of Copacabana, Ipanema, and Leblon. Although the statue has a 1920s Art Deco aesthetic, the idea was actually conceived in the 1850s, when someone suggested it to the Brazilian emperor as a monument to honor his daughter Isabel.

While Christ the Redeemer was added as one of the 7 wonders of the world in 2007, people in Rio have been enjoying the view of the mountain peak and its foothills since 1884, when the funicular railway that still runs up to the top of the mountain first opened, nearly 30 years before workers broke ground on the statue. If you don't want to ride the train, you can technically hike to the top of the mountain, although the trail passes through many favela shanty towns that can be dangerous if you accidentally wander into them.

Who Started The Tradition Of Rio’s Carnival?

Rio's premier cultural tourism experience, of course, is its annual Carnival celebration, which takes place in January or February depending on the year. Like other similar celebrations in Europe and North America (the most famous there being New Orleans' Mardi Gras), Rio's Carnival serves as a festival of debauchery, a last hurrah between the Catholic celebrations of Advent and Lent.

The roots of the festival were planted in the 18th-century when Portuguese immigrants brought their traditional festival, called Entrudo, to Brazil. Entrudo is a variation on traditional European Carnival celebrations, which saw people hold feasts to honor the Greek gods of wine. In celebration, people would pour out into the streets and dump buckets of mud, water and food on each other. It was a somewhat messy display by modern standards.

Today, the glitzy and glamorous Carnival is far from what it once was. Over time, it has evolved to become more distinctively Brazilian. It's also an opportunity to gender-bend as typical Carnival outfits consist of flamboyant, colorful samba costumes, with feathered accents and loud headpieces. Now a global event, Carnival has also become more cosmopolitan, with throngs of tourists from every corner of the world cheering as the parade passes.

That's the other main change: What was once a chaotic street party has now become a well-choreographed parade, which in spite of its large size and hyper energy, is extremely organized. Rio's Carnival is the most famous one in Brazil, but it's not the only one. If you happen to be in other cities like Salvador and São Paulo at this time, you can expect to see similar festivities.

Uncover Rio De Janeiro's Local Neighborhoods

Rio’s hilltop Santa Teresa neighborhood is a mashup of past and present. Heritage street cars, which date back to the late 19th century, still run along cobbled streets. In Lapa, just beneath Santa Teresa, stands an even more ancient structure. The Carioca Aqueduct, more commonly known as the Lapa Arches, was Rio's main water source when it opened way back in 1723. Today, it's one of the city's best places to take a selfie or a group photo!

Meanwhile, not far from Lapa is Rio's modern downtown. Don't be fooled by all the skyscrapers, however — history abounds here. The turn-of-last-century Municipal Theater, whose design was inspired by Paris' Opera House, stands formidably amid the modern glass jungle. While the Rio de Janeiro Cathedral is newer, having been built in the 1970s, the unique and slightly off-color way it pays tribute to Brazil's predominant Catholicism is timelessly fascinating.

Heading south from downtown takes you to the neighborhoods of Botafogo and Flamengo, which sit right on Guanabara Bay, with Sugarloaf Mountain looming in the distance. Both of these neighborhoods are replete with heritage: Botafogo hosts the aforementioned Museu do Índio, while Flamengo's name is an homage to the Flemish sailors who made an unsuccessful attempt to invade Rio in 1599. In Urca, which is right at the base of Sugarloaf, you can find Rua São Sebastião, Rio's oldest street.

The popular beachside neighborhoods of Copacabana, Ipanema, and Leblon are slightly less rich in history, with Copacabana in particular having only gained notoriety after the tourism boom of the 1970s. However, an important piece of cultural heritage — the 1960s song "The Girl from Ipanema" — has its origins, not surprisingly, in Ipanema. You can still have dinner at Garota de Ipanema, the restaurant where it's said to have been written.

Reading up on the history of Rio de Janeiro is a must-do while planning your vacation trip to Brazil. Rio is replete with rich heritage — from the very first days of its (re)discovery by Portuguese explorers, to the later development of neighborhoods like Botafogo and Flamengo and the establishment of tourist attractions like the city botanical gardens and the tradition of Carnival. You may find that taking a cultural tourism vacation to discover the history of Rio firsthand will enhance your experience and understanding of this wanderlust destination.