cordão do bola preta, also known as 'bola preta', hits the streets of rio de janeiro each year during carnival, parading through the city's downtown area on carnival saturday.

the block starts at the business end of town, known as cinelândia, then makes its way on to avenida rio branco before reaching the candelária church and heading back to cinelândia.

formed in 1918 on the rua da glória, cordão do bola preta is without doubt one of rio de janeiro's most popular blocks with a staggering two million people reported to have joined its parade on avenida rio branco during the 2013 carnival.