The cidade maravilhosa (marvellous
city) is one of the most densely populated places on earth. The Cariocas
- as the inhabitants are called - thrive on dance, drink, beach, sport and sun.
It's a city of Dionysian spirit whose people live life head-first. The
international tourist crowd take advantage of Rio's ritzy side - there are
innumerable opportunities to be decadent. But Rio also has much to offer the
budget traveller. There are cheap hotels and restaurants aplenty, and the beach
is a free entertainment zone.
Rio's famous statue of Christ as Redeemer, standing tall, arms wide, on Corcovado Mountain, is 30m (98ft) high, and weighs 1145 tons (1038726 kg). The distance between Christ's fingertips is 28m (91ft).
Rio was eternalized in the song "Garota de Ipanema" composed by Tom Jobim and recognized worldwide and recorded by Astrud Gilberto, Frank Sinatra, and Ella Fitzgerald. This is also the main key song of the Bossa Nova, a musical genre that was born in Rio.