many visitors come to rio de janeiro planning to visit one of the world-famous favelas - in fact, these neighborhoods have become top destinations, part and parcel of a tourist itinerary which includes beaches, mountains, and art galleries.

classifying favelas as just another touristic destination would be wrong - visiting these unique neighborhoods is something that should be done with sensitivity and intelligence.

favelas should not be classified simply as 'attraction,' as they are living neighborhoods, home to families for generations rich of history and traditions - part of what makes them fascinating today is the history each community, which is something that should be kept in mind at all times by all who choose to explore one of these areas.