Affectionately knew as the "Marvelous city" among locals, Rio de Janeiro is indeed a spectacular sight to behold. Founded in 1565, Rio has risen to become one of the most famous cities in Brazil, and was in fact the capital of this far reaching country up until 1960. There are a lot of iconic features associated with Rio, of which the Christ The Redeemer statue perched overlooking the city might be the most striking. Another popular Rio feature, is the annual Carnival celebration. One of the biggest and most eccentric parties the world over, Carnival is just before Lent, and is tolerated by the within the Roman Catholic Church as a get-it-all-out-of-your-system new party. The natural landscape around Rio is spectacular, with numerous peaks surrounding their unique harbor helping it to land a spot on the list of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. There are dozens of historic and modern attractions throughout the city, although it's still advisable to steer clear of the faults, or slums. Still, if you are looking for fun and excitement, this city is part of the best such options in all of South America.