The State of Rio de Janeiro is among Brazil’s 26 states. Rio de Janeiro is actually the smallest state in Brazil but it boasts of having the third longest coastline. And despite it being the smallest state, it doesn’t fail to attract tourists to its pristine beaches, festive events and their rich culture.

 

The Capital City

 

The capital, the city of Rio de Janeiro, is house to famous tourist attractions such as the Christ the Redeemer statue in Corcovado, Ipanema and Copacabana beach, and Sugar Loaf. Aside from these famous attractions, the capital city is also known for its lively festivals and for its rich culture. The most popular festival of Rio is the Carnival which is a celebration of Brazil’s most famous music, the Samba. This is greatly participated by samba schools and is heavily attended by tourists around the world. The New Eve’s celebration is also another event in the city of Rio de Janeiro that is most awaited by not only the locals but also by tourists from around the world.

 

Other Cities

 

There are also cities in the State of Rio de Janeiro that are visited by a lot of tourists. Arraial do Cabo, known as the capital city for scuba diving, attracts visitors because of its sea. Arraial has a lot of well-preserved beaches. Ponta Leste, a beach that has a very rich marine life, Ponta da Jararaca, which has parts of a sunken ship spread at different depths, Cordeiros and Dona Paula are some of its famous beaches. Sandbanks, lagoons and headlands are also part of its natural features. In one of the headlands, Pontal do Atalaia, a magnificent coastal sunset can be witnessed.

 

Niterói, the second largest city in the state, is famous for the bridge connecting it to Rio, the Rio-Niterói Bridge. This stretches 14 km long and is one of the longest bridges in the world. The Modern Art Museum or what is locally known as the Museu de Arte Contemporânea de Niterói is the city’s most famous attraction. It was designed by the world-renowned architect Oscar Niemeyer and was opened in 1996. The museum houses the João Sattamini Collection with some 1980 Brazilian artworks.

 

These are only among the many cities and attractions that the State of Rio de Janeiro boasts of. A lot of tourists visit the state and its cities to enjoy all that it has to offer.