Carnival Behind The Scenes

Cidade do Samba

Cidade do Samba is where Rio de Janeiro’s famous samba schools create the costumes, floats and magic behind Carnival. Located in Porto Maravilha, this enormous complex allows visitors to discover how the world’s biggest Carnival celebration comes to life while exploring workshops, giant creations and the fascinating backstage of samba culture.

Botanical Gardens

Botanical Gardens - Created in 1808 by D. João VI of Portugal, the Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden (JBRJ) is famous for the exuberance and the scientific importance of its plant collection, as well as for the beauty of its landscapes. Its bicentennial history is expressed in its monuments, buildings and artworks.

The visitors can walk along the alleys or rent an electric car to see plants from all over the world, visit the greenhouses (Orchids, Bromeliads, Ferns, Insectivorous Plants) and the thematic collections and gardens, like the Japanese Garden, created in 1935 from the donation of 65 species of tipical Japanese plants.

Among the monuments, we highlight the Visitor’s Center – a XVI century bulding -, the statues of Eco and Narciso by Mestre Valentim, and the Academy of Fine Arts Portal, projected by Grandjean de Montigny. The Garden is also an excellent place for bird watching.