RIO DE JANEIRO HANDBOOK: THE TRAVEL GUIDE

It is said that when God created the world in six days he spent at least two on Rio de Janeiro and certainly few cities have such a privileged location squeezed in between the mountains and the sea. No wonder its inhabitants call it the cidade maravilhosa - the marvellous city - and it''s just as popular with foreign visitors. For many its name alone signifies glamour, fantasy and a veritable tropical paradise.