If you haven't thought that Rio de Janeiro was a place with plenty of cultural places, you should reconsider. One of the main reasons why Rio is such a highly cultured city is because only here you can find a high population density and rich ethnic mix that has given shape to all sorts of artistic expression which can be found especially in the music, dance and the lifestyle of the ?cariocas? ? this is how the Rio residents are called, especially during the famous Carnival. Here you can find a lot of cultural centers, performance venues, art galleries that host an ever-changing series of cultural events.

One of the city's most important venues for films, music, exhibitions and plays is the Centro Cultural Banco do Brasil, located at Rua Primeiro de Marco 66. If you are looking for cultural events, we recommend that you acquire the Rio Show magazine in the Friday edition of the O Globo newspaper as it offers weekly cultural listings. Tickets can be found at the venue box offices and for some events through Ticketmaster.

As far as the music area is concerned, Rio has a lot to offer; take for example the Brazilian Symphony Orchestra which is performing at several venues across the city. The Theatro Municipal has its very own resident orchestra and is the most important venue for operas and classical concerts. Theatre fans have plenty of plays to see here as Rio de Janeiro has more than 60 theatres. More than that, only here tourists can find museums, cultural venues as well as cafes that were primarily designed as spaces for performing arts. One of the most important venues is the Museu Nacional de Belas Artes which includes a 200-seater and it is located at Avenida Rio Branco 199. Contemporary shows can be viewed at Maison de France, located at Avenida Carlos 58. The already mentioned Theatro Municipal is also the home of both contemporary as well as classic fare. Almost all plays are staged in Portuguese while very little are in English.

Dance is also present in Rio de Janeiro with the help of the Rio's ballet company ? Ballet do Theatro Municipal which can be found at Theatro Municipal. The home of samba can be found only here, in Rio de Janeiro. Rio residents are avid film enthusiasts as they watch not only Brazilian productions but also foreign films. Both the European and American films are brought very quickly here and are screened in the original language along with Portuguese subtitles. Two of the most important cinemas are Cinemark and Estacao. Speaking of films, the most popular film set in Rio is probably Flying down to Rio (1933) with Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers and was filmed in the Copacabana Palace Hotel.

As far as literature is concerned, the Brazilian literature isn't translated in English. Two famous novelists are Jorge Amado and Paulo Coelho, the latter wrote The Alchemist which is considered to be a modern classic.

All things considered, Rio de Janeiro isn't all about the beaches, the beautiful ladies, the nightlife; it is also about music, film, theatre, performing arts, which all can be found here, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.