The Culture of Brazil

Flamboyant, multicultural and colourful – Brazilian culture and people continues to fascinate people from all over the world who flock to Rio to get a taste of the fabled carnival spirit.

Brazilian fiction, poetry, and drama account for about half the literary output of Latin America. Machado de Assis is widely regarded as the greatest Brazilian writer of the 19th century and beyond and is known for the universality of his novels and essays.

Brazil’s musical traditions include the samba, bossa nova, forró and frevo. The São Paulo State Symphony is considered one of the finest orchestras in the world.

The Rio Carnaval is an annual celebration held forty days before Easter and marking the start of Lent. It is a vibrant cornucopia of music and dance featuring flamboyant parades staged by the city’s major samba schools in the Sambadrome.

Soccer is Brazil’s most important game and the Brazilian national team has been victorious in the FIFA World Cup tournament a record five times. Brazil has produced many of the world's most famous soccer stars, most notably Pelé, Ronaldo and Ronaldinho.