The Victorious “Cariocas”. (inhabitants of Rio de Janeiro)
To enter into the spirit of the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympic Games, we give you below a few of the multitude reasons why you should visit and get to know the “Cidade Maravilhosa”, “Wonderfull City), one of the most fascinating destinations in the world.
Copacabana Beach.
Rio de Janeiro’s Cobacabana beach cult starts from Avenida Princesa Isabel and ends at Posto 6. The charming name “Princesinha do Mar” (Princess of the Sea) was immortalised in the famous song by composers João de Barro, o Braguinha and Alberto Ribeiro. With its wide stretch of white sand, dotted with beautiful bodies, and the promenade of black and white stones, set in patterns of undulating waves, carry visitors into an imaginary world. In the words of the song, “in the mornings, you are life and song” and indeed, in the early morning, Copacabana already throngs with people exercising, jogging, walking and bicycling. On the white sands, groups of enthusiasts play Voleiball, Footvolley, and Frescoball, always followed by cold, fresh coconut juice sold at the many kiosks along the promenade.
It is here that the luxurious Copacabana Palace Hotel is found, the “Carioca” icon and symbol of glamour, where kings, princes and famous film stars have been guests. From the same song; “in the late afternoon, the setting sun always creates in us a sense of longing……”
Museu Internacional de Arte Naif.
Having seen the magnificent views of the Rio coastline from the top of Corcovado, tourists may leave the funicular train station at Cosmo Velho, and taking a few short steps, visit the delightful Museu International de Arte Naif (MIAN), where they will learn about Rio de Janeiro “from the inside”, its people, their day to day lives and beliefs. The museum has been open to the public for fourteen years, and contains a collection of over six thousand items, some dating back to the fourteenth century, and is considered to be the largest collection of this art form in the world. All of the Brazilian States are represented and over 130 countries, including Haiti, Cambodia and Croatia. The “Naïve” painters have characteristics in common: they are self taught, create their own proportions and perspectives, expressed with warm and vivacious colours, rich in detail and overall, painted with a sweet lyricism and innocence. Their subject matters are the simple things of life; children, birds, flowers, weddings and imaginary animals. According to surrealist painter Salvador Dali, (1904-1989), “Naïve” painters receive their inspiration directly from fairy tales”. They show us that life is a banquet and that we are surrounded by love and poetry. This is a magical place. The museum has a shop where paintings, books, post cards of some of the paintings and art objects may be purchased. Courses on art and talks are available.
Sitio Burl Marx.
One of the cultural centres of Rio de Janeiro is the Roberto Burle Marx garden. Here you will be able to learn a little of the “genealogical tree” of the tropical and subtropical plants of our planet. Within the forty hectare gardens with welcome shady spots, there are more than 3500 species of cultivated plants. Situated in Barra de Guaratiba, the park came into being in 1949, when architect and landscape artist, Burle Marx, took his collection of plants, which he had started at the age of six, to their new home in Barra.
Visitors will find a thousand reasons to pause and absorb the beauty of the gardens. Within the greenhouses you will find Orchids, Bromelia and Anturios, genus of the Arum family, as well as the rarer Araceae, Palmae, Heliconicceae and Velloziaceae. The old main central farmhouse of the property, dating back to the 17th century has been completely restored and now houses a museum containing more than 3000 items, including paintings, sketches, tapestries, baroque images, pre Columbian ceramics and primitive ceramics from the Vale de Jequitinhonha. Cultural activities including exhibitions and courses are held in the Santo Antonio Chapel and in Burle Marx`s old studio. For Burle Marx, “a garden is nature ordered by man, for the benefit of man”.
(Sitio Burle Marx, Estrada da Barra da Guaratiba 2019, tel 21 – 2410-1412).
A charming outing.
When you enter the exhibition rooms of the Museu Casa do Pontal in Rio de Janeiro you will immediately feel a sense of happiness, being surrounded by a Brazil full of delights. You will find toys from your childhood, blind mans bluff, balloons, pass the ring, skipping and much, much more. Figures moulded in clay or carved in wood, depict the day to day pleasures of our bronzed Indians, the Festa juninas (June, midwinter festivals), the face masks, puppet shows, circuses and carnival. More than eight thousand pieces are on exhibition, creating what is considered to be the most significant collection of popular art in Brazil. According to actress Juliana Prado, co-ordinator of social and educational projects of the museum, “Casa do Pontal provides us with a detailed glimpse of the life and culture of Brazilians”.
The museum opens its doors to show and promote popular art and occasionally offers tours conducted by guides who act and perform for the youngsters as they explain the exhibits. There are also theatre workshops for children with puppet shows and Brazilian folklore. For university students and historians, art and popular culture theme seminars are held.
Museu Casa do Pontal.
Santa Teresa.
The Santa Teresa district, situated on the hillsides of the same name, retains within the huge metropolis of Rio de Janeiro, the air of a small, interior town. The temperature is always two or three degrees cooler than at sea level, and the architecture, mode of transport and hotels possess a unique charm all their own. The best way to gain a feeling for Santa Teresa is to take the zigzagging yellow “bondi! (trolley bus). From this rickety vehicle, you will see the old mansions and houses of the plantation owners, built by the first inhabitants on the steep slopes. To day, some artists and musicians offer bed and breakfast facilities to tourists. Invariably, friendships strike up between host and guest, and the proprietors take their visitors to museums, exhibitions, shows with “chorinho” music (Brazilian laments), theatre and other cultural events. One of the most sought after hotels is the sunny, mid eighteenth century home of actress Ana Duraes.
Well worth a visit is the stone stairway leading from Lapa to Santa Theresa. The Chilean Artist Jorge Selaron, now a Brazilian resident, decorated each of the steps and sidewalls with fragments of tiles collected from many parts of world. A Gaudi in tropical tones.