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maltatoday, SUNDAY, 9 NOVEMBER 2014 TRAVEL 39 RIO de Janeiro is a city of beauty and contrasts – contrasts of colour, life- styles and dazzling scenery that will always fascinate and make one long to be there. It is one of the largest cities in South America, widely renowned for its various cultural celebrations. Rio de Janeiro is a city sculptured on a thin strip of land between the mountains and the sea. It is re- nowned for its spectacular natural setting, its carnival celebrations, the beat of the samba, a vibrant beach culture that plays out on the beaches of Copacabana, Ipanema or Leblon and the easygoing lifestyle of its in- habitants. Some of its most famous land- marks include the giant statue of Jesus, at the top of the Corcovado Mountain, which has recently been named as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World; Sugar Loaf Mountain with its cable car, the Sambodromo, a giant permanent parade stand used during the Car- nival; and Maracana Football Sta- dium, one of the world's largest. Rio also boasts the world's largest forest inside an urban area, Tijuca Forest. What to do? Atop Corcovado (which means 'hunchback'), Cristo Redentor gazes out over Rio, a placid expression on the well-crafted face. The moun- tain rises straight up from the city to 710m, and at night, the brightly lit, 38m-high statue is visible from nearly every part of the city – all 1,145 tons of the open-armed re- deemer. One of the beaches most favoured by Cariocas and tourists, for the beauty of its landscape and for surf- ing, both in summer and winter, is Arpoador beach. It is 800m long, stretching between Forte de Copac- abana and Rua Francisco Otaviano with Av. Vieira Souto. The beach is so called due to the fact that, in the past, it was possible to harpoon whales from its shores. Do not miss visiting the rocks at Arpoador, the most beautiful spot to watch the sunset and admire the sea. A trip to Rio is worth planning in advance. Get there for the carnival – the biggest and best in the world. Although Carnival (Carnaval in Portuguese) is celebrated in towns and villages throughout Brazil and other Catholic countries, Rio de Ja- neiro has long been regarded as the Carnival Capital of the World. The Rio Carnaval is not only the big- gest Carnival, it is also a benchmark against which every other carnival elsewhere is compared and one of the most interesting artistic events on the globe. Almost everyone has heard of the Rio Carnaval. Foreign visitors alone are 500,000 strong every year. Standing next to Praça Tiradentes, the 174 year old Real Gabinete Por- tuguês de Leitura (Portuguese Royal Cabinet of Literature) offers visitors a beautiful journey through this ar- chitetonic and cultural gem, along- side a historic tour of the wonderful city. Founded on May 14, 1837, the library offered Portuguese immi- grants access to Portuguese publi- cations. Real Gabinete Português de Leitura boasts close to 400,000 vol- umes, including rare editions such as the 1572 Luís de Camões's "Os Lusíadas", which belonged to the Companhia de Jesus and the original manuscripts of "Amor e Perdição", (Love and Loss) by Camilo Castelo Branco and "O dicionário da Língua Tupy", (Diccionary of the Tupy lan- guage) by Gonçalves Dias. Besides offering a wide literary collection, Real Gabinete also acts as curator of the cultural and social relations between Portugal and Bra- zil, hosting activities such as con- certs, workshops and studies. Built in the Manueline Portuguese style, the gorgeous Real Gabinete also has a small collection of paintings, sculptures and ancient coins. The Casa do Pontal museum com- prises approximately 8,000 pieces of Brazilian popular art, among sculp- tures, dolls, wood carvings, mould- ings and articulated mechanisms. About 200 popular artists of all regions of Brazil have their work in- cluded in the collection, which cov- ers the whole second half of the 20th century until the present days. Where to stay? The Copacabana Palace, www. copacabanapalace.com, is truly a grand hotel with a traditional dé- cor, full of history and stories to tell. Many celebrities, kings and queens have stayed in this glamorous and refined property. It enjoys a prime location on the beach, separated on- ly by the famous Avenida Atlantica, which makes the hotel the centre point of Copacabana. Located just in front of the best part of Ipanema Beach, Caesar Park, www.caesar-park.com, is only sepa- rated from the beach by Avenida Vieira Souto – the most exclusive district in the city. The hotel offers a mix of traditional and modern design. Guests will appreciate the thrilling view from the rooftop res- taurant. The JW Marriott in Rio, www. marriott.com, enjoys a prime loca- tion in the centre of Copacabana Beach. The property is separated from the beach only by the Ave- nida Atlantica. The view from the rooftop pool is magnificent. This hotel is designed in a classical style and satisfies all the needs of the so- phisticated traveller. Where to eat? French-colonial decor and deli- cately spiced cuisine await those venturing inside this charming con- verted house Zazá Bistrô Tropical in Ipanema. Inventive combinations, blending East and West, match the seduc- tive mood inside. Upstairs, diners lounge on throw pillows, with can- dles glowing along the walls. Those who prefer fresh air can dine on the porch out front. Set in the Parque do Flamengo with a stunning view of Pão de Açúcar, Porcão Rio's is consistently ranked by restaurant critics as the city's best churrascaria. Whether you believe the hype – or simply come for the view – you're in for an eating extravaganza. Arrive early, both to score a good table and to see the view before sunset. One of Rio's best restaurants, Zuka prepares delectable mouth-water- ing cuisine – zingy ceviche or the confection-like delicacy of Zuka's original foie gras to start, followed by rack of lamb with passion fruit, grilled fish of the day with mando- quinha purée and many other im- aginative dishes. The colours of Rio www.visitgozo.com Gozo, the best holiday 21-23 NOV Special Ferry Prices between Fri 21st (19.15hrs) - Mon 24th NOV (01.30hrs) Passenger: €1.50 (€4.65) Cars: €8.50 (€15.70) More infomation on www.visitgozo.com The iconic statue of Cristo Redentor overlooks the city of Rio, standing 710 metres above the city Arpoador beach is one of the best spots where to watch the sun set and appreciate the sea The Rio carnival has become a benchmark against which all other carnival celebrations elsewhere are rated