The city of Rio de Janeriro was elected by UNESCO on 1 July 2012 to be a World Heritage Centre. The reason given by UNESCO was for Rio’s iconic landscape and setting.

Rio is the 19th Brazilian World Heritage Centre.

The full list is:

Cultural

• Brasilia (1987)
• Historic Centre of Salvador de Bahia (1985)
• Historic Centre of São Luís (1997)
• Historic Centre of the Town of Diamantina (1999)
• Historic Centre of the Town of Goiás (2001)
• Historic Centre of the Town of Olinda (1982)
• Historic Town of Ouro Preto (1980)
• Jesuit Missions of the Guaranis: San Ignacio Mini, Santa Ana, Nuestra Señora de Loreto and Santa Maria Mayor (Argentina), Ruins of Sao Miguel das Missoes (Brazil) (1983)
• Rio de Janeiro: Carioca Landscapes between the Mountain and the Sea (2012)
• Sanctuary of Bom Jesus do Congonhas (1985)
• São Francisco Square in the Town of São Cristóvão (2010)
• Serra da Capivara National Park (1991)

Natural

• Atlantic Forest South-East Reserves (1999)
• Brazilian Atlantic Islands: Fernando de Noronha and Atol das Rocas Reserves (2001)
• Central Amazon Conservation Complex (2000)
• Cerrado Protected Areas: Chapada dos Veadeiros and Emas National Parks (2001)
• Discovery Coast Atlantic Forest Reserves (1999)
• Iguaçu National Park (1986)
• Pantanal Conservation Area (2000)