Fripito

Brazil’s Rio De Janeiro is world famous for its carnival celebrations, passionate samba rhythms and its long white beaches, and so be prepared to be completely taken away by its unique atmosphere. The city lies on the shore of Guanabara Bay and despite its hot atmosphere, Rio de Janeiro means “January River”. Our new guide includes not only the most famous sites such as the Christ the Redeemer statue on Corcovado Mountain, the beaches of Copacabana and Ipanema, the historic district of Santa Teresa, and the world-famous “Sugarloaf” mountain Pao de Acucar, but it also covers the city’s modern center with skyscrapers and poor favelas, which together create an interesting contrast. Our guide will give you tips on where to relax in the second largest city of Brazil, or where to enjoy the city’s best Caipirinha and where you get to enjoy the best views. Discover for yourself why Rio de Janeiro is known as the “Wonderful City” (Cidade Maravilhosa).

70 of exclusive photos incl. offline maps, travel advices and tips for photographers

Beach, sun, sea, mountains, friendly and beautiful people. I could not have been born in a better place! The Rio de Janeiro is rather a wonderful city and I am proud to live in it. I'm carioca, my name is Leonardo Paris and I´m living here for thirty-six summers now. I am married and have a daughter, Marina, a sweetness of girl that only brings me joy.

As a child, when I was about 10, I usually took the camera from my mom to shoot. I did not take photo of anyone, just wanted to record the landscapes. She only wasn´t very happy when she found that I had spent her 36 poses film, and she still would have pay to reveal it! I've always been a quiet guy, patient and observant, so I think quite natural to have chosen photography to express myself artistically.

Spurred by the scenario that unfolded day after day in front of my eyes and encouraged by the ever lower prices of digital cameras, I afforded money for a few months while on internship and bought my first camera in 2004. A 5 megapixel p92. It was the maximum.

So, for ten years ago I shoot Rio de Janeiro. The places that I knew, the angles that I imagined when I had no camera yet and the ones I met exploring new neighborhoods, doing walks and adventures. How nice it is to go around walking and photographing. Along these years, I realized that what intrigues me most is the space around. I live in it. It is part of me and I´m part of it. I feel an almost unstoppable will to capture it, as if the pictures I´m taking not only captures it, but myself. I fall in love and express all my love for the city through photos, and I want people to see the beauty of this city as I see. This is how I declare my love and I hope this is a never-ending story. That's why I decided to dedicate myself to landscape shots.

As I continue photographing Rio, I encourage my explorer and stroller side visiting and registering other cities and little corners around the world. I met the stunning beauty of Central Park during the fall and had the great marvel - even for a short time - to visit the outskirts of Kyjov and its rolling fields in the Czech Republic. Memorable.

My healthy dilemma now is to decide what place will follow. But one thing is certain: we find ourselves here in Rio. After all, this is the city where the meetings take place.

That hug!