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Carnival in Brazil: Rio
The origins of Carnival are unclear, but most agree that
it started as a pagan celebration in ancient Rome, or
Greece. Carnival balls were imported from Italy in the
late nineteenth century, and had their golden era in the
thirties, with legendary balls at the Copacabana Palace
and the Municipal Theater.
The Samba Parade also got started in the 30's - first
timidly at Praça XI, and later on Av. Presidente Vargas.
It found a permanent home in 1984 at the Sambodrome, in
the downtown area. Today the event is broadcast to dozens
of countries and all Brazilian states. Many people
consider it the biggest show on earth.
There's much more to Carnival than the Samba Parade,
though. Street Carnival is loads of fun, free, and
happens all over the city. You are more than welcome to
watch, and participate. Banda de Ipanema is one of the
most traditional ones, attracting as many as 8,000
people!
Rio de Janeiro: Carnival in the Sambodromo
Opened in 1984 and designed
by Brazil's famous architect Oscar Niemeyer the massive
structure on each side of Av. Presidente Vargas -Rua.is
700 meters long, 19 meters high and
has a total floor-area of 85,000 square meters which can
hold 60,000 cheering fans of the 5,000 member samba
schools.
Tickets sell out but there is always some available for
the right price. Unless you have seats in a special
section be sure to arrive early to hold a good spot in
the mostly general seating arena. The 100,000 seat
Sambódromo was built especially to frame this
"world's greatest show" held on the Sunday and
Monday night just before Fat Tuesday.
Carnival in Brazil 2008 : February 02 to February
05
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