SAMBÓDROMO DA MARQUÊS DE SAPUCAÍ
Go there and contact
An 800-metre-long secure open-air avenue, surrounded by vertiginous tiers, hosts the samba school parade.
Designed by starchitect Oscar Niemeyer, the Sambódromo Marquês de Sapucaí is 800 m long, 650 m of which runs in front of the judges. The space is conceived as an open-air avenue dedicated to carnival between gigantic bleachers, to the west of Centro and Lapa. It was completely renovated for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. The Sambódromo is closed all year round and becomes the focal point of Rio's carnival during the festival days, from Friday to Ash Wednesday. Since 1984, this is where the samba schools parade each year before a crowd of some 90,000 Cariocas and tourists from all over the world. The jury elects the best school of the carnival, and the proclamation of the results is awaited in a feverish atmosphere.
Tips. In the months leading up to Carnival, all the samba schools come to the Sambódromo for ensaios técnicos, or "technical rehearsals", with costumes and a meticulously planned parade to ensure that everything is perfect on D-day. Every Saturday and Sunday, three samba schools parade here, and the show is free! It's all there for the taking. For the full program, visit the "Ensaios técnicos no Sambódromo" section of the official Sambódromo website or www.rio-carnival.net. The venue is secure, but the area around the Sambódromo is very unsafe. It's essential to get in and out by cab (which wait quietly in front of the security cordon).
Did you know? This review was written by our professional authors.
Book the Best Activities with Get Your Guide
Members' reviews on SAMBÓDROMO DA MARQUÊS DE SAPUCAÍ
The ratings and reviews below reflect the subjective opinions of members and not the opinion of The Little Witty.
