10 Interesting Facts about Rio de Janeiro

If you’re looking for some information on some travel destinations, then perhaps one of these following facts about Rio de Janeiro will give you much information about it. Rio de Janeiro, commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, boasting approximately 6.3 million people within the city proper. Some parts of the city has designated as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO on 1 July 2012 in the category Cultural Landscape. To get to know more about it, here are some other facts about Rio de Janeiro you may like.

Facts about Rio de Janeiro 1: River of January

When explorers arrived in Guanabara Bay on New Year’s Day 1502, they mistook the bay for the mouth of a mighty river. Hence they called the place Rio de Janeiro – literally, ‘River of January’.

Facts about Rio de Janeiro 2: Funk Music

Funk music here bears no resemblance whatsoever to James Brown style funkiness. Carioca Funk is a style of music featuring lyrics shouted over tinny keyboards. Born in the city’s vast favelas, Rio’s baile funks (funk parties) are legendarily debauched. There are some socially conscious funksters out there making music with a positive message, but sex, drugs and gang violence remain the principal theme for most funk anthems.

Facts about Rio de Janeiro 3: City’s Rich People

The city’s rich people like to dress their pampered pets in shoes, hats, and even full outfits. Poodles are the most popular dogs in Rio high society, and some have a different outfit for every day of the week.

Facts about Rio de Janeiro 4: Copacabana

Copacabana is one of the most densely populated places on the planet, with some 25,000 people per square meter. The majority of these inhabitants are squeezed into the myriad high rise apartments that dominate the neighborhood.

Facts about Rio de Janeiro 5: Costa Verde

The state of Rio de Janeiro boasts more than 50 kilometers of beaches, with some of the best spots outside the city being located along the Costa Verde (Green Coast).

Facts about Rio de Janeiro 6: Maracana Stadium

The Maracaná Stadium holds the record for the largest attendance of any football (ok, soccer if you insist…) match in history. A record-smashing 200,000 fans turned out for the decisive match of the 1950 World Cup, only to see Brazil defeated by South American rivals Uruguay.

Facts about Rio de Janeiro 7: Rio Carnival

Rio Carnival as we know it today is a far cry from the event’s beginnings in 1641, when the Portuguese settlers celebrated Ash Wednesday with masked balls and sophisticated parties. Samba began to make its mark on the carnival festivities at the beginning of the 20th Century, with the first official Samba School created in 1928.

Facts about Rio de Janeiro 8: Carnival Parades

The high entrance fee to the main carnival parades doesn’t mean that cash-strapped travelers have to miss out on the carnival fun. Across the city, hundreds of street parties, or blocos, take place over carnival season, featuring samba bands, dancing, and plenty of dancing.

Facts about Rio de Janeiro 9: Theatro Municipal

The impressive Theatro Municipal, built in 1905 and located at the heart of Centro, was directly modelled on the Paris Opera House in a bid to replicate the sophistication of the French capital.

Facts about Rio de Janeiro 10: Favelas

Contrary to popular belief, the favelas of Rio de Janeiro are not solely populated by bandits and drug dealers. Some 20% of Rio’s residents live in the favelas, and the majority hold down regular jobs, such as security workers, cleaners, bar staff and restaurant workers. Many of these hardworking individuals are living in these so-called dens of sin and vice.

Those following facts about Rio de Janeiro would hopefully give much information about this city and make them as your best references to visit this city once. Hope you found those Rio de Janeiro facts interesting and useful.