Rio de Janeiro's location between the sea and the mountains is so impressive that UNESCO has listed it as a World Heritage Site as "a stunningly beautiful place in one of the world's greatest cities." The UNESCO awards were given not only for the natural environment, but also for the combination of architecture, urban cultural landscape and planned green spaces that characterized Rio's growth.
Rio de Janeiro was the capital of Brazil from 1763 to 1960 and the country's second largest city at the time of Brazil's creation. Rio was founded by the Portuguese in the 1500s and became a port where gold was shipped from the interior. Almost since Rio became known for its material assets, the sugar cane towering over its harbor, the towering mountains and the long crescent-shaped beaches that have been its main attractions have expanded its landscape with notable buildings from different eras and a large amount of open space and city parks.

14 May 2024, Tuesday | 1435