every year rio de janeiro attracts millions of visitors to its carnival celebrations, and to its lavish parades, which take place in the sambódromo - this arena is known throughout the world for their spectacular costumes, energetic dancing, and vibrant colors.

the sambódromo is not the only venue for parades, in fact, one could say that the entire city rio de janeiro itself becomes a venue - during carnival week there are over 400 different street parties known as blocos, and this number grows every year.

the entire event is rich in social meaning, with an even deeper meaning behind them - there are many important elements that hold the key to fully appreciating the importance of blocos in the history of rio.