Essentials: Rio de Janeiro

1) Graffiti allowed! Rio would not be so colourful without its street art. The city has paid tribute to street artists by legalizing spray-painting as far as possible: public buildings are also permitted as long as they are not listed buildings. One of the largest works is the 3,000-square-meter mural "Etnias" in the harbour area. 

2) Rio de Janeiro translates as "January River." The name originated in January 1502 when Portuguese sailors landed in a bay that they mistook for the mouth of a river. When the town's foundations were laid in 1565, the term became part of its name. 

3) One item of clothing is an integral part of Rio de Janeiro's beach neighbourhoods: the bikini. But in 1961, then President Jânio da Silva Quadros had the two-piece banned by law. Was that the reason why he was only able to stay in office for seven months? 

4) Contrary to the saying "lightning never strikes twice in the same place," the famous Cristo Redentor statue high up on Corcovado mountain has been struck several times – it even lost a fingertip in 2014. Ouch! 

5) The love of football here is overwhelming. In 1950, over 173,000 people gathered in Rio de Janeiro's Maracanã Stadium. At least, that's what the official figures say. Unofficially, it is said to have been significantly more. It was the final of the World Cup, when Brazil took on Uruguay – and lost 2-1, a tragic moment in the country's football history.