Maracanã Stadium, the America football cup championship 2019. After the eliminatory, the last two opponents remain for the final game.
The stadium is overcrowded and the only thing you hear is the roar coming from both team’s followers: chanting and shouting. Who does it louder? Who does it better?
This is Rio de Janeiro and it is Maracanã! This is football and the hart of Brazil!
So, if you are going to show up at any of the matches played in Maracanã stadium, do yourself a big favor and take advantage of the opportunity. Be adventurous and wonder one of the most exciting cities in the world. The city that belongs to Ronaldo: the soccer player of two world cups; or Nelson Piquet: the runner of formula 1. Rio, a city where many passions come together, from the music heard on the streets of bohemian neighborhoods, to the sophisticated and self-indulgent Brazilian´s cuisine.
Here, we suggest some activities that you certainly will enjoy, and, at the same time, will make you live the real carioca experience.
The Christ the Redeemer
It is the largest Art Decó statue in the world!
Those who appreciate the clean and precise shape of the statue will feel amazed by the Christ the Redeemer´s majesty. The figure stands erect, dressed in a long tunic, sculpted with few but clean-cut details. The open arms are straight at each side, simulates a cross without being crucified. This image seems to represent the meeting between religion and modern men.
However, the figure is not the only protagonist element of the most iconic image in the world. The statue is on top of a rocky and unusual geological formation called the Morro of Corcovado. It is a kind of steep mountain that, from a distance, look like a rocky finger pointing to the sky. The whole composition which combines the work of man and the work of nature is what ultimately makes the visual concept of the statue. In other words: The Christ the Redeemer could not be what he is today without El Morro del Corcovado.
There are many things to say about Christ with open arms. For example, it measures 98 feet from top to toe and 92 feet horizontally (with its extended arms). Sits on a pedestal base about 26 feet high. On top of the hill, the statue rises 710 meters above one of the most beautiful bays on the earth. Finally, Christ the Redeemer is one of the 7 wonders of the modern world.
A man travels for that intrinsic need to explore the planet and, in the run, to find places that will amaze him and take his breath away, due to the rarity and beauty. That is exactly the view that shows when standing at the top beside the Christ the Redeemer. You will be static by the panoramic view of a city that dominates the bay, with a sea dotted with islands and tropical forests, surrounded by a mountain range of strange figures.
Impossible to avoid the appointment with the Christ the Redeemer.
Ways to get there
Corcovado Train:
Hours: 08:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. departures every 30 minutes; Last climb at 7:00 p.m.
Official vans / vans of the park
Hours: daily from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. from Paineiras Station until 6:00 p.m.
In a private vehicle
By vehicle, you reach the Paineiras Station. From there you must take one of the official vans or vans of the park.
Best Restaurants in Latin-American
The prestigious British list that grades “The World’s Best 50 Restaurants” (1), in a ceremony celebrated in Colombia, gave the name of the restaurants that make it into the 2018 list for the Latin American version. Four of those restaurants are located in the city of Rio de Janeiro.
And why not? Rio de Janeiro follows the footsteps of São Paulo´s city. Even more, Rio possesses a vibrant rhythm that derives into a sensual and irreverent lifestyle, impregnating with personality the music and the carioca cuisine.
Next is the list of the four best restaurants in Latin America that are in Rio de Janeiro.
Position No. 26 – Restaurant LASAI
Rafael Costa e Silva is the executive chef of Lasai. He defines himself as a true Carioca and emphasizes that his dishes are created according to the fresh and organic elements available in the area. It goes from vegetables, herbs, and fruits to the fish, collected by artisanal fishermen from Rio.
Lasai´s style is defined as an unpretentious Brazilian cuisine. The chef highlights the freshness of the products he works with – from the farm to the table. The main courses and ingredients that stand out are mostly pears, squid, tender Palm heart ceviche, banana, bok choy, and honey.
A very special note is the place where the restaurant is located. This is an added value that elevates the gastronomic experience to another level. From a high point of the city, diners can indulge in a terrace overlooking the metropolis and … Didn´t we just talk about it? Yes! The view includes the Christ of the Corcovado.
Address: Rua Conde de Irajá, 191, Botafogo, Rio de Janeiro
Phone: +55 21 3449 1834
Website: http://www.lasai.com.br
Position No.27 – Olympe
The restaurant that occupies place No. 27th in the list is the Olympe. It is run by the executive chef Thomas Troisgros, who represent the fourth generation from a line of prestigious chefs.
The restaurant opened in 1983, originally commanded by Chef Cloud Troisgros -Thomas´s father. Since then, the place has been growing with success. In 2015, Thomas Troisgros takes over the family business and, like his predecessors, keeps working with and inventive cuisine style. When asked how he describes the Olympe cuisine, he just says that is French cookery with a Brazilian twist.
The most outstanding dishes are baked cod, purple potato gnocchi, and grouper with caramelized banana, raisin sauce, lemon, and cilantro.
Address: Rua Custódio Serrão 62, Lagoa, Rio de Janeiro
Phone: +55 21 2539 4542
Website: http://www.lasai.com.br
Position No.33 – Oteque – First time listed
The Oteque Restaurant is an extended personification of its executive chef Alberto Landgraf, a celebrité in Brazil. The story says that Landgraf wanted a place where he could experiment and, at the same time, get free rein to the great creative talent for what he is known.
Alberto Landgraf worked before in São Paulo, was his great talent for innovation and creativity became famous in the city. Later, he decided that the place to establish his restaurant was going to be Rio de Janeiro, and, shortly, got into the competitive high-end restaurant market in the carioca city. Alberto got very involved in the design and equipment of the premises. There is no corner that was left to chance. With an almost scientific talent, we could say that every single thing in Oteque is thought and calculated to give the best gastronomic experience.
Happily, the effort paid off when the restaurant made its debut in the 2018 list of the 50 best restaurants in Latin America. With his enormous talent, Landgraf´s Oteque stands out for dishes that use roasted onion, sea urchin and mussel cream.
Dirección: Rua Conde de Irajá 581, Botafogo, Río de Janeiro
Phone: +55 21 3486-5758
Website: http://www.oteque.com
Position No. 49 Oro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – First time listed
Finally, located in one of the trendiest neighborhoods in Rio, there is Oro, number 49 on the list of the best restaurants in Latin America. Like Oteque, Oro restaurant also makes its debut on the 2018 list.
The chief executive Felipe Bronze, a native of Rio de Janeiro, is a well-known TV chef, host of prestige culinary programs. As in the previous case, Oro is a custom design restaurant, created to fit Felipe Bronze´s talent. The formula used is the creation of two different offers. The first proposal has to do with seasonal dishes (to guarantee the freshness used in the meal courses), and the second option is about the personal signature that he creates with the meal courses.
Felipe Bronze defines his cuisine as fire-cooked food with carioca influence. The creations range from pão de queijo (cheese bread) with praline to oysters with a caipirinha. A special note is that almost all his proposals are eaten with the hands
Address: Av. Gen. San Martin, 889, Leblon, Rio de Janeiro
Phone: +55 21 2540-8768
Website: http://ororestaurante.com.br/
Lapa – The trendiest neighborhood in Rio
We already talked about cuisine in Rio. Now, let’s talk about music, about that charming rhythm that hovers in the night, through the bohemian alleys, while the beat invites you to dance and have fun. So, let´s talk about Lapa.
The story of Lapa resembles the story of a soap opera, popular entertainment in Brazil. It originated as a bourgeois neighborhood where family houses of the upper class were concentrated. The reason why, when you visit the quarter, you will find buildings and mansions with a style of 19th-century imperialist architecture. Later the decline took over: brothels and nightclubs began to dominate the spaces. At the beginning of the 20th century, Lapa´s notoriety kept going. The district became the place where art, culture, and intellectualism met freely, challenging the conservative and moralistic society of the time. No wonder that then, it was compared to Montmartre, in Paris.
Finally, like a tragic character in a literary masterpiece, the vices in the quarter made it fall into disgrace. Lapa became an abandoned neighborhood, neglected and in poverty. The story mentions that it was in the 80s that the municipal offices began to take firm steps to rescue the historical heritage and the blithe atmosphere from past times.
Today, with the same associative impact, that people around the world relate the Christ the Redeemer, the Pan de Azúcar hill, or Ipanema and Copacabana beaches with Rio the Janeiro, the Lapa´s quarter has become an icon that also relates to Cariocas.
Lapa is the place par excellence to feel and live the music from Rio de Janeiro. No wonder that at night the streets bevy with people dancing, musicians playing and songs overflowing the night.
Take a look at the best nightclubs and hot spots in Lapa´s quarter
Bip Bip
A popular bar among Cariocas. The bar keeps a conservative atmosphere that stands apart compared to the other establishments. The singularity of the place is that the tables inside the bar are occupied by the musicians. Clients sit at tables placed on the sidewalk or they just stand around while they drink and enjoy music.
Address: Rua Almirante Gonçalves, 50 – Copacabana
Website: www.facebook.com/barbipbip
Trapiche Gamboa
Trapiche Gamboa is considered the most autochthonous place of all and, in addition, the most emblematic for natives of Rio. It’s a place to listen to music and dance samba. Also to drink Caipirinha. Especially, it is an opportunity for travelers to mingle with true Cariocas and understand their dance and music. You might have the opportunity to participate in a Rodas de samba.
Address: Sacadura Cabral, 155 – Gamboa
Website: http://www.trapichegamboa.com/
Pedra do Sal
Another place to enjoy music on the street is in Pedra do Sal. Let yourself be carried away by the beat of the drums and, why not? participate in the uninhibited and sensual samba dances. The plaza is filled with professional musicians and is the place where the most popular Rodas de samba is celebrated.
An important note is that it is recommended to be accompanied and to enter and leave by taxi, in case of being a tourist.
Address: Largo João da Baiana – Centro
Rio Scenarium
Rio Scenarium is the most popular place in all Rio de Janeiro. It´s a place to enjoy a true carioca night. There are three stages, always occupied with samba, garotas and so on. And there are smaller rooms that present a diversity of Brazilian music style.
Address: Rua do Lavradio, 20 – Lapa
Website: www.rioscenarium.com.br
4 The Maracanã Stadium
Do you know where the final American Cup Championship game will be?
Right!
In the Maracanã stadium
The official name is “Estadio Jornalista Mário Filho” and it is simply known as The Maracanã. It is the largest stadium in Brazil and possesses a great historical legacy in football. Hosted the two world cups played in Brazil: World Cup 1950 and 2014; but, in addition, it was the place where the final matches of both championships were played
The Maracanã, through its long history, had significant remodeling. Today maintains its original sky blue façade and its 5 floors. The roof was added for the last world cup in 2014. Finally, to obey FIFA´s standards, the stadium reduced its capacity from 96,000 seats to 80,000 seats in total.
The most visible updates, for the Maracanã Stadium that has added quality and greatest enjoyment at the matches, are: the stands lean steeper, brings the viewer closer to the playing field and to the action in the game, also seats are much more comfortable than before.
A new tunnel was added, also ramps, escalators, locker rooms only for players, shopping area and there was an expansion for the parking areas. Today Maracanã stadium can receive 16,000 vehicles.
We already said it. It will be the venue was the American Cup Championship, 2019, will play the final game, on July 6th.
The other four matches are: Paraguay and Qatar, June 16. On June 18 and 24 instead, it will be the match between Bolivia and Peru and Chile vs. Uruguay. On June 28, will be one of the quarterfinals matches.
Samba, songs, ovations, overwhelming feelings, friendship, and enmities: all that energy will dominate the scene. Get ready to experience Rio, football, and Maracanã.
Address: City of Rio de Janeiro and its address is Rua Professor Eurico Rabelo, s / nº, portão 18, Maracanã
5 Airports closest to the Maracanã stadium
We could not close this article without delivering the list of airports that are in Rio de Janeiro, where you can land with your private jet or rented plane. What a better way than having the liberty of time and enjoy the matches in Maracanã plus take the time to day trip part of the city.
Galeão International Airport (IATA: GIG – ICAO: SBGL) NAC-INT: At 21min – 17.6km / 10.94mi —- 4000mts of track (concrete) and 3180mts of track (asphalt)
Santos Dumont Airport (IATA: SDU – ICAO: SBRJ) NAC: At 19min – 10.4km / 6.46mi —- 1323mts of track (asphalt) and 1260mts of track (asphalt)