| | History (Source: WCities) | Top | The village of Rio de Janeiro was founded in 1565 by the Portuguese near Sugar Loaf Mountain as a stronghold to defend the territory against foreign invaders after the expulsion of French settlers. The full name of the city, São Sebastião do Rio de Janeiro, was a tribute to the Portuguese king (and, of course, the saint). In 1567, when the village was moved to Morro do Castelo, the population amounted to some 3000 people, most of them indigenous. The main industries at that time were fishing, especially whale fishing, and sugar production, with large sugar cane plantations and processing plants that extended from Gávea and the Rodrigo de Freitas Lake to the suburbs. At the end of the 17th Century, the gold rush in Minas Gerais, northwest of Rio, gave a boost to the city's development. There was a substantial increase in immigration from Portugal that turned the city into the main port of the colony. This, in turn, attracted a legion of French pirates and smugglers, who invaded the city in 1710 and 1711, until they were finally expelled. The city boomed and the increase in population forced the frantic development of infrastructure to keep up. The most famous aqueduct in Rio, the Lapa Arcs , was opened in 1793. The structure is so solid that it is used today as a tramway connecting the district of Santa Teresa to the city centre. The arrival of the Portuguese royal family in 1808 turned Rio into the temporary capital of Portugal, and the population increased t
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| How To Get There (Source: WCities) | Top | Getting There Air Rio de Janeiro's Galeão - Antonio Carlos Jobim International Airport is located 20 kilometers ( 13 miles ) north of the city. It is the second largest airport in Brazil and named for the composer of "The Girl from Ipanema." Rio de Janeiro is also serviced by the Santos Dumont Airport ( +55 021 3814 7070 ), which offers flights to domestic destinations. Galeão - Antonio Carlos Jobim International Airport ( GIG ) +55 021 3398 5050 http://www.infraero.gov.br/ Flights are provided by the following airlines: Aerolineas Argentinas ( http://www.aerolineas.com.ar/ ) Air France ( +1 800 237 2747 / http://www.airfrance.com/ ) American Airlines ( + 1 800 433 7300 / http://www.aa.com/ ) British Airways ( +1 800 247 9297 / http://www.ba.com/ ) Continental ( +1 800 525 0280 / http://www.continental.com/ ) Delta ( +1 800 221 1212/ http://www.delta.com/ ) Iberia Airlines ( +1 800 772 4642/ http://www.iberia.com/ ) Lufthansa ( +1 800 399 3838 / http://www.lufthansa.com/ ) TACA ( +1 800 400 8222/ http://www.taca.com/ ) United ( +1 800 241 6522 / http://www.ual.com/ ) VARIG Brazilian ( http://www.varig.com/ ) From the Airport Bus & Taxi: There is public transportation to and from the airport via Airport bus and taxi. Taxis are available outside the terminal, but it is advisable to purchase a prepaid travel voucher from the Transcoopass ( +55 021 2560 4888 ) since metered fares can v
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| What To Do (Source: WCities) | Top | This city brings together a deep blue ocean, a lush forest right in the heart of town, a 24-hour life, and an enviable climate in which to enjoy these aspects. Beaches In this cidade maravilhosa , the fun begins in the morning. On Copacabana or Ipanema, one can experience the true carioca spirit, sipping a cold draft beer in one of the many bars on the beach and watching beautiful people stroll by. When the sun starts going down, it is time to look for a good spot to watch the glorious summer sunsets. Music For some live music, go to Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas , where the many food stalls form a veritable gastronomic park, and live music is often heard. Rio is the country's musical capital and the shows are abundant. The biggest and most famous venues are Canecão and ATL Hall, formerly named Metropolitan, where the big names of Brazilian and international music usually perform. However, for superstars, the choice is Maracanã or Praça da Apoteose, where Frank Sinatra and the Rolling Stones have played. Every year in September, the MAM (Museum of Modern Art) hosts one of the most important musical events in Rio, the Free Jazz festival, a gathering of local and foreign artists in settings that vary according to the musical style. There are also more intimate locations to listen to good pop and jazz, like the Teatro Rival, Mistura Fina and Casa de Cultura da Universidade Estácio de Sá, or in a typically Brazilian chorinho like the Café das
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