while the discovery of brazil is credited to pedro álvares cabral, the rio de janeiro stretch was discovered on january 1st 1502 by gaspar de lemos, heading portuguese explorers who believed guanabara bay to be the mouth of a huge river and therefore named the location rio de janeiro (january river).

in 1503, the first portoguese settlement was established near a small river, on what is today flamengo beach - these were the houses that originated the word 'carioca.'

this special date is particularly heartfelt by the people of rio de janeiro, always commemorating with events, musical concerts, and small parades - in particular, 2015 celebrated the 450th anniversary of rio de janeiro, a date marked by grandiose events and the election of a queen of the city.