When people think of the Football World Cup, many have visions of the Infamous Brazil strip, and the many famous icons to have donned it. Yellow shirt, Blue shorts, Pele, Rivaldo, Ronaldo and now Neymar. Well we thought we would go with an iconic location for this week’s edition of Parasol Places as well. The Sugarloaf Mountain gained its name in the 16th Century. During the heyday of the sugar cane trade in Brazil, the Portuguese transported blocks of sugar back to Europe in conical clay moulds which bared a resemblance to the shape of the mountain. The name was given and has stuck ever since. The mountain only recently gained appropriate protection against development in 2006, but any future worry subsided when Sugarloaf Mountain became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2012. So, what is the big deal? The mountain is famous for its breath-taking view of Rio De Janeiro and the surrounding areas and attracts over a million tourists annually. Standing at 396m high, it gives a 360-degree view of white beaches, vast forests, and mountainous terrain. The ascent to the top is made in two stages and begins at Praia Vermelha (Red Beach). The first cable car makes the journey up to Urca Hill at 220m. At this stage there are fantastic aerial views of both Copacabana and Christ the Redeemer. From here, the second journey is made up to the ultimate view at the top, and the long trip there has been worth it! Sugarloaf is definitely on our bucket list, and really it should be on yours too. Rio De Janeiro Style Guide – Here are our key choices for the ultimate Rio De Janeiro trip.
