WE start our trip in Praça XV,passing by Paço Imperial,is a palace of governors in Colonial era, house of Emperor Pedro I,now a days a cultural center.

Our second stop will be the chafariz do Mestre Valentim,it used to be a very important place in Colonial era, bringing water to Rio citizens coming from Rio Carioca.

Then , we go to Arco do Telles, the last collonial arch in Rio de Janeiro,it served as passageway under the former residence of of the 17th century Teles de Menezes.Now a days , a lot of night life happens under this arch and something very interesting is , Carmem miranda used to live there.

Then , we gonna pass by livraria Folha Seca where we  can find books about Rio.

There are some cultural centers,Casa França Brasil, Centro Cuktural Banco do Brasil Centro Cultural dos Correios and we gonna finish visiting Igreja da Candelária,one of the most beautiful churches in Rio.

A good option to see Brazilian dance and culture

Niterói

Niterói is a city, and a município (county), in the state of Rio de Janeiro, southeast region of Brazil. This city was founded on November 22, 1573 by the Tupi Amerindian chief Araribóia (who later was converted to Roman Catholicism and given the Christian name of Martim Afonso, after the Portuguese explorer Martim Afonso de Souza). It makes Niteroi the only Brazilian city to have been founded by a non-Christian, non-assimilated Brazilian Amerindian.^[3]

Niteroi is a modern city, with modern buildings and four main shopping malls. Its economy is centered on its trading and commerce services, like imobiliary corporations, graphic design, web design and publicity. It also hosts industries of food (especially seafood), clothes, caldle, marine objects; its negative point is that its transports depend on a small port and scarce options of roads, if compared to Rio de Janeiro's.

The city is 25 minutes from the center of Rio de Janeiro's city, the state's capital, and most populated, although Niteroi boasts the title of the second richest of the state.^[5]

The Niterói Contemporary Art Museum, the city's main landmark, was designed by the famous Brazilian modernist architect Oscar Niemeyer. The landscape of the central urban area of the city is dominated by a high cilindric building though, the Niterói Tower, that hosts different professional offices and belongs to the Niterói Shopping Mall.

Niteroi has other three big shopping malls besides the Niterói Shopping Mall: the Plaza Shopping, the Itaipu Multi Center and the Baymarket. This last one occupies the former area of the Sandiz department store, demolished in the mid १९९०

Demographics

Niteroi is 14 km (8 miles) distant from Rio de Janeiro city, to which it is linked by the Rio-Niterói bridge and two ferry-boat services. The quality of life in Niteroi is considered one of the best (3rd place) among 5,600 Brazilian cities, according to UN indexes।

Politics

São Francisco Beach.

Currently, mayor of Niterói is Jorge Roberto Silveira ( From Brazilian Work Party or Partido Trabalhista Brasileiro in Portuguese ). Jorge Roberto Silveira is an old mayor of Niterói ( who was involved in the MAC Scandal ),he is the favourite politician of the people from Niterói. He gave the title of the 4th Brazilian city with the better quality of life, the cleanest city of Brazil with CLIN

[edit] Administrative divisions

The Administrative Regions of Niterói (pre-1990)

From 1943 to the late 1970s, the county of Niteroi comprised two districts only: the district of Niteroi (original area) and the district of Itaipu (acquired in 1943), which barely had an urban continuity or even proper road links to each other and were considered apart areas. The fractioning of Itaipu's farms into real estates as well its imobiliary boom after the building of the Rio-Niterói's bridge demanded a better integration between the two sides of the county which led to the improving of the roads and urban facilities and a reformation on the make up of Niteroi's administrative division. The county was reorganised into five districts. In the early 1990s, the administrative division of Niterói was altered once again, being the county now divided into twelve administrative, further subdivided into 48 neighborhoods.

U.S. citizens travelling to Brasil

February 01, 2008

COUNTRY DESCRIPTION: Brazil, a nation the size of the lower 48 United States, has an advanced developing economy. Facilities for tourism are excellent in the major cities, but vary in quality in remote areas. The capital is Brasilia. Read the Department of State Background Notes on Brazil for additional information.

ENTRY/EXIT REQUIREMENTS: A passport and visa are required for U.S. citizens traveling to Brazil for any purpose. Brazilian visas must be obtained in advance from the Brazilian Embassy or consulate nearest to the traveler's place of residence. There are no "airport visas" and immigration authorities will refuse entry to Brazil to anyone not possessing a valid visa. All Brazilian visas, regardless of the length of validity, must initially be used within 90 days of the issuance date or will no longer be valid. Americans reentering Brazil must be able to show an entry stamp in their passport proving that the visa was issued within 90 days; otherwise they will not be allowed reentry. Immigration authorities will not allow entry into Brazil without a valid visa. The U.S. Government cannot assist travelers who arrive in Brazil without proper documentation.

Travelers are reminded that they are subject to local law. Showing contempt to a Brazilian government official at the port of entry, or elsewhere, is a serious offense. (Fines for such offenses are based on the offender’s claimed income.)

Additionally, travelers who have recently visited certain countries, including most other Latin American countries (check Brazilian Embassy website linked below), may be required to present an inoculation card indicating they had a yellow fever inoculation or they may not be allowed to board the plane or enter the country. Minors (under 18) traveling alone, with one parent or with a third party, must present written authorization by the absent parent(s) or legal guardian specifically granting permission to travel alone, with one parent, or with a third party. The authorization (in Portuguese) must be notarized and then authenticated by the Brazilian Embassy or Consulate.

For current entry and customs requirements for Brazil, travelers may contact the Brazilian Embassy at 3009 Whitehaven Street NW, Washington, DC 20008; telephone 1-202-238-2828, e-mail consular@brasilemb.org; web site at http://www.brasilemb.org। Travelers may also contact the Brazilian consulates in Boston, Houston, Miami, New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, or San Francisco. Addresses, phone numbers, web and e-mail addresses, and jurisdictions of these consulates may be found at the Brazilian Embassy web site.

Rio de Janeiro: Avenida Presidente Wilson 147, telephone 011-55-21- 3823-2022, after-hours 011-55-21- 3823-2029; web site at http://www.embaixada-americana.org.br/index.php?itemmenu=83&submenu=107&action=rio.php. Consular Section public hours are 8:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. (passports and reports of birth by appointment) and 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. (notary services), Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, except Brazilian and U.S. holidays. Non-emergency passports and reports of appointments should be done by appointment; please request at acsrio@state.gov.

Brazil, a lifestyle

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Brazil, a lifestyle

For a long time now, Brazil’s natural beauty and Carnival rendered it international fame, attracting thousands of tourists all year long. The number of foreigners visiting the country went from an average of 1.5 million per year in the 1990s to more than 4 million visitors per year from the year 2000 on, according to Embratur’s (Brazilian Tourism Institute) Statistical Yearbook for 2003. But there is a very special attraction that you only discover when you come here: the Brazilian people. Much beyond the breathtaking scenery, the way these people live surprises everyone with its simplicity, willingness, hope, hospitality and happiness.

Studies carried out by Enbratur indicate that 75% of the tourists who seek Brazil as their vacation destination do so first of all because of the natural beauty. But once they arrive here, they find such hospitality that they soon become enchanted with the mixture of colors, races and cultures of the people as well.

According to surveys, when foreign tourists are questioned about Brazil, they indicate happiness as the main characteristic of our people. Happiness that can be perceived in every moment they stay in the country – whether in our music, the warmth of our northeastern beaches, the lively Rio de Janeiro nightlife or the exuberant Amazon.

From this warm and festive spirit, popular displays such as Carnival, New Year’s Eve celebrations and June Parties arise, all famous for their liveliness and joy. It seems that the people’s desire to show what is good about Brazil transforms this vigor into creativity, flashed about in contagious colors and sounds.

Research carried out with international tourists who have already had the opportunity to know Brazil reveal that the visitor truly finds the country to be beautiful. The results also show that 52% of this public goes back home valorizing yet another aspect of this land: its people. After all, besides appreciating some of the most beautiful spots on the planet – including countless beaches, ecological paradises and historical cities – the visitor is always accompanied by people who are willing to show the best points of every excursion, making the trip unforgettable.

Samba City

Samba City

Samba City is the latest tourist attraction in Rio de Janeiro, occupying an area of 114.000 sq. meters, built in the port district by the City Hall, at Rua Rivadávia Corrêa 60, Gamboa, a district neighboring downtown.


There is a reason for this choice of location for the thematic city, since it is here, considered to be “Sacred Ground”, that the Carioca samba was born.

The triangle, which includes the districts of Saúde, Santo Cristo and Gamboa has a great concentration of the City´s popular culture, notably the personalities and entities, linked to the Carioca Carnaval.

The design of Samba City forms a geometrical figure, with factories surrounding the main square. They seem like parts of a group, linking hands, forming a large circle. It is as if the world of the samba were embracing its ancestors, who were around here during the 17th and 18th centuries, bringing the art of African dance and music, to be incorporated today to Brazilian cultural traditions.

The thematic city will transform Samba School activities into a permanent practice. More than a tourist attraction, Samba City has become a production center of genuine Brazilian art.

THE FACTORIES OF SAMBA

. gates measuring 10m wide by 7.5m high allow the passage of the allegoric floats fully assembled.

. Sewing ateliers, hat fashioning room, adornment room and the workshops for polystyrene and fiber glass modeling are located on the highest floor of 2.700m²

. A cargo elevator services all four stories.

. The 12m high ceiling ( void ) assure that the allegories can be assembled in their real size.

. From an outside sidewalk, the visitor will go through all factories, watching the allegories construction from an 8m high balcony.

PERMANENT CULTURAL ACTIVITIES

There are varied activities at the Samba City. Please call the phones: (21) 2213-2503 or (21) 2213-2546
www.cidadedosambarj.com.br.

Paquetá Island

An invitation to tranquility only a few minutes from downtown Rio



A few minutes from the busy metropolis, right in the heart of Guanabara Bay, Paquetá is a gift to cariocas. A tropical island that attracts national and international tourists, it is a perfect natural setting for romance, strolls and fun. Paquetá is indeed a special place to visit beginning with the pleasant journey on a ferry, catamaran or hydroplane across the Bay, with the sea breeze for company. On landing, the visitor will find no traffic of motorized vehicles on the island where bicycles and horse-drawn carriages move on the gravel of streets lined with colorful flamboyant. The streets take up only 10,9 km² of the total area, so the island is noise and pollution free.





Ever-present nature characterizes the place. Paquetá has the 20 only Brazilian baobabs – an African tree that residents call “Maria Gorda” (Fat Mary). Another typical tree is flamboyant, some of the specimens being 100 years old. The name of the island is a Tupi (Brazilian Indian language) word meaning “many shells”, due to the vast quantities that can be found on the beaches of calm and inviting waters. Excursions to Pedra da Moreninha (Moreninha Rock) and Parque Darke de Mattos (Darke de Mattos Park) should not be missed. The park was totally revitalized recently, the re-urbanization works having been carried out by Rio City Hall. In the late afternoon, there is nothing better than watching the sunset. On Morro da Cruz (Hill of the Cross) there is a belvedere that is also a must as it gives a partially panoramic view of the island.







Since 1883 Paquetá has been part of Rio de Janeiro municipality. From the graveled streets one is able to observe buildings of various architectural styles, including the Mansion where D. João VI stayed, and the house that belonged to José Bonifácio de Andrada e Silva, the patriarch of independence.

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Endereço: Paquetá
Visitação: Ferries and hydroplanes: departure from Praça XV de Novembro.