Good news for travel to-and-from Brazil and the UK with British Airways to expand its São Paulo, Guarulhos – London Heathrow operation from 29 October 2024 by three weekly flight from 7 to 10 frequencies.
The new flight is a daytime service from London (11.30-20.20) and overnight back (23.40-14.10 +1). Services to operate Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.
These flight are in addition to the daily service between Heathrow and GIG Rio de Janeiro, that also connects to Buenos Aires.
They were the last school to parade on carnival Monday, but Viradouro, the most successful of all the schools over the last five carnivals, is the champion samba school in Rio again, scoring a perfect 270 out of 270. It last won in 2020.
Viradouro’s winning samba “Arroboboi, Dangbé” looked at the energy of the cult of the powerful serpent god of Voodoo mythology, Vodou, the force that manifested itself in epic battles on the West Coast of Africa and influenced the struggles of the all female Mino warriors of the Kingdom of Dahomey, a dynasty of women chosen by the python spirit, Dangbé.
Second was the champion in 2023, Imperatriz with 269.3, with Grande Rio (269.2), winners in 2022, in third. Making up the top six that parade in the Winners Parade were Salgueiro (269.0), Portela (268.9) and Vila Isabel (268.8).
And, as so often happens, Porta da Pedra (264.9), that was promoted last year, is relegated this year with a Unidos de Padre Miguel, champion of Série Ouro being promoted to parade in the Grupo Especial in 2025. Padre Miguel have paraded five times in the elite group of schools, the last time in 1972.
The full results of Rio’s Carnival Parade in 2024 for the Grupo Especial were:
1º – Viradouro – 270,0
2º – Imperatriz – 269,3
3º – Grande Rio – 269,2
4º – Salgueiro – 269,0
5º – Portela – 268,9
6º – Vila Isabel – 268,8
7º – Mangueira – 268,8
8º – Beija-Flor – 268,5
9º – Paraíso do Tuiuti – 268,3
10º – Mocidade – 267,2
11º – Unidos da Tijuca – 265,7
12º – Porto da Pedra – 264,9
Thanks to the Riotur.Rio team of talented and hard working photographers, a quick and colourful look at the two nights of parades of Rio’s top samba schools, the Grupo Especial, on 11 and 12 February 2024. Dates of the parade of the Grupo Especial in 2025 are 2 and 3 March.
DAY ONE – 11 FEBRUARY 2024
DAY TWO – 12 FEBRUARY 2024
MESTRE-SALAS & PORTA BANDEIRAS (Dance masters and standard-bearers)
LATAM Airlines has painted a number of its Airbus A320s in the colours of the countries it serves. These include Brazil, Chile, Peru, Colômbia and Ecuador.
In 2024 the main parades of the Grupo Especial samba schools during Rio de Janeiro’s carnival are scheduled to take place on the nights of Sunday, 11 February and Monday, 12 February 2024. The 12 schools will parade in the following order:
Sunday, 11 February
Monday, 12 February 2024.
Exame Magazine has asked a jury of food critics and gourmands to come up with their choice of Brazil’s top 100 restaurants.
São Paulo’s A Casa do Porco came out in top spot with the Rio duo of Lasai and Oteque in 2nd and 3rd and Salvador’s Origem in fourth. Filling out the top five was Maní in São Paulo.
Full list of top 100 covering 12 Brazilian states below and for the original story CLICK HERE
| 1 | A Casa do Porco | São Paulo |
| 2 | Lasai | Rio de Janeiro |
| 3 | Oteque | Rio de Janeiro |
| 4 | Origem | Salvador |
| 5 | Maní | São Paulo |
| 6 | Manga | Salvador |
| 7 | Metzi | São Paulo |
| 8 | Charco | São Paulo |
| 9 | Nelita | São Paulo |
| 10 | Glouton | Belo Horizonte |
| 11 | Notiê | São Paulo |
| 12 | D.O.M. | São Paulo |
| 12 | Fame Osteria | São Paulo |
| 14 | Taberna Japonesa Quina do Futuro | Recife |
| 15 | Shihoma Pasta Fresca | São Paulo |
| 16 | Evvai | São Paulo |
| 16 | Mocotó | São Paulo |
| 18 | Cipriani | Rio de Janeiro |
| 19 | Valle Rustico | Garibaldi (RS) |
| 20 | Murakami | São Paulo |
| 21 | Manu | Curitiba |
| 22 | Cepa | São Paulo |
| 23 | Ocyá | Rio de Janeiro |
| 23 | Pacato | Belo Horizonte |
| 23 | Tanit | São Paulo |
| 26 | Osso | São Paulo |
| 27 | Xapuri | Belo Horizonte |
| 28 | Escama | Rio de Janeiro |
| 28 | Fasano | São Paulo |
| 30 | Corrutela | São Paulo |
| 31 | Cais | São Paulo |
| 32 | Lilia | Rio de Janeiro |
| 33 | 74 | Búzios (RJ) |
| 34 | Rocka | Búzios (RJ) |
| 35 | Jiquitaia | São Paulo |
| 35 | Mesa do Lado | Rio de Janeiro |
| 35 | Picchi | São Paulo |
| 38 | Íz | Goiânia |
| 39 | Cozinha Tupis | Belo Horizonte |
| 39 | Igor | Curitiba |
| 41 | Caxiri | Manaus |
| 41 | Dona Mariquita | Salvador |
| 43 | Aizomê | São Paulo |
| 43 | Barú Marisquería | São Paulo |
| 43 | Capincho | Porto Alegre |
| 46 | Sult | São Paulo |
| 47 | Votre Brasserie | São Paulo |
| 48 | Preto | São Paulo |
| 49 | Punk Cuisine | Curitiba |
| 50 | Makoto San | São Paulo |
| 51 | Komah | São Paulo |
| 52 | Grado | Rio de Janeiro |
| 53 | Kan Suke | São Paulo |
| 54 | Florestal | Belo Horizonte |
| 55 | Chez Claude | São Paulo/Rio de Janeiro |
| 56 | Cora | São Paulo |
| 57 | Birosca S2 | Belo Horizonte |
| 58 | Oro | Rio de Janeiro |
| 59 | Président | São Paulo |
| 60 | Tragaluz | Tiradentes (MG) |
| 61 | Jun Sakamoto | São Paulo |
| 61 | Kuro | São Paulo |
| 63 | Arturito | São Paulo |
| 63 | K.sa | Curitiba |
| 63 | Obst. | Curitiba |
| 66 | Gero Rio | Rio de Janeiro |
| 67 | De Segunda | São Paulo |
| 68 | Banzeiro | São Paulo/Manaus |
| 69 | Carvão | Salvador |
| 70 | Sud, o Pássaro Verde | Rio de Janeiro |
| 71 | Remanso do Peixe | Belém |
| 72 | Guri | Porto Alegre |
| 72 | Ostradamus | Florianópolis |
| 74 | Zoi | Fortaleza |
| 75 | Xavier | Porto Alegre |
| 76 | Turi | Belo Horizonte |
| 77 | Voar | Recife |
| 78 | São Pedro | Recife |
| 79 | Osteria Della Colombina | Garibaldi (RS) |
| 80 | Ristorantino | São Paulo |
| 81 | Cuia | São Paulo |
| 82 | Casa do Saulo | Santarém (PA) |
| 83 | Gajos D’Ouro | Rio de Janeiro |
| 83 | Nino Cucina | São Paulo |
| 85 | Borgo Mooca | São Paulo |
| 85 | Camélia Òdòdó | São Paulo |
| 87 | Haru | Rio de Janeiro |
| 88 | Hashi | Porto Alegre |
| 89 | Babbo Osteria | Rio de Janeiro |
| 90 | Amado | Salvador |
| 90 | Arvo | Recife |
| 92 | Kinoshita | São Paulo |
| 93 | Tasca da Esquina | São Paulo |
| 94 | Tangará Jean-Georges | São Paulo |
| 95 | Modern Mamma Osteria | São Paulo |
| 96 | Casa de Tereza | Salvador |
| 97 | Imma | São Paulo |
| 98 | Donna | São Paulo |
| 99 | Nōsu | São Paulo |
| 100 | Preta | Salvador |
Imperatriz Leopoldinense is the champion of Rio’s carnival, 22 years after its last title. The green, white and gold school of Ramos paraded on the Monday night with “O aperreio do cabra que o excomungado tratou com má-querença e o santíssimo não deu guarida”, of carnavalesco Leandro Vieira.
Imperatriz Leopoldinense travelled to the northeast to tell the story of the arrival in both heaven and hell of the bandit leader and folk hero, Lampião. It is the school’s ninth title and the carnavlesco’s third title having previously won with Mangueira in 2016 and 2019, in addition to having won the Série Ouro twice, with Imperatriz itself in 2020 and with Império Serrano in 2022. But it is Império Serrano that is relegated straight back to Série Ouro.
Joining Imperatriz for the winners’ parade will be Viradouro, Vila Isabel, Beija-Flor, Mangueira and Grande Rio.
The results of Rio’s Carnival Parade in 2023 were:
As always a diverse selection of themes and story lines have been chosen to be presented by the top schools at Rio’s carnaval.
In 2023 these include Vila Isabel that will celebrate the human capacity to have faith in what cannot be seen; Salgueiro that has chosen a plot about valuing freedom of expression, showing that paradise is built individually by each person, without restriction or sin. Mocidade will look at the cultural legacy of artists from Alto do Moura in Pernambuco, and the disciples of the artist Mestre Vitalino. Historic figures also feature and Viradouro will tell the story of Rosa Maria Egípcia who was brought from Africa to Brazil in 1925 and is credited as the first black woman to write a book in Brazil. Imperatriz Leopoldinense will travel to the northeast and tell the story of the arrival in both heaven and hell of the bandit leader and folk hero, Lampião. Império Serrano brings a storyline based on Arlindo Cruz’s success, “My Place”. In a tribute to the singer, the samba school will go through moments and places that marked his career.
Paraíso do Tuiuti will tell the story of the arrival and impact of buffaloes to Brazil, through the Marajó Island, in Pará, which inspired a cultural manifestation in the region. The state of Bahia is featured by three schools. Unidos da Tijuca will celebrate everything about Bahia, taking a lot of axé to the avenue and feature the joy of Bahia’s carnival. Mangueira will highlight the impact of women on the music of Bahia, while Beija-Flor will argue that the “true” independence of Brazil was the expulsion of the Portuguese troops from Bahia 200 years ago in 1823. Celebrating its centenary, Portela, one of the city’s most famous and traditional schools, will not surprisingly look back at the school’s history through the eyes of five characters who have been fundamental to the school and Rio’s carnival. And Grande Rio, the current champion of Rio’s carnival, will pay tribute to the musician and great sambista Zeca Pagodinho, who will join the school for the parade.
The main parades of the Grupo Especial – Rio’s top 12 ranking samba schools – will next take place on the nights of Sunday, 19 February and Monday, 20 February 2023.
Sunday, 19 February 2023
Monday, 20 February 2023
In 2023 the main parades of the Grupo Especial in Rio de Janeiro’s carnival are currently scheduled to take place on the nights of Sunday, 19 February and Monday, 20 February 2022. The 12 schools and the order that they will parade in 2023 are:
Sunday, 19 February 2023
Monday, 20 February 2023
Brazil the Guide 