1500
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1763
1808
1822
1851
1858
1888
1889
1896
1905
1909
1912
1918
1931
1932
1950
1954
1960
1964
1965
1969
1974
1979
1983
1984
1985
1987
2002
2007
2009
2014
2016
1500
On 22 April, a Portuguese fleet commanded by Pedro Alvares Cabral arrived off the coast of what is now the state of Bahia
1502
Guanabara Bay is first seen by Portuguese seafarers on 1 January. As they initially (and wrongly) think it is the mouth of a large river, they name it Rio de Janeiro (January River)
1565
On 1 March, Mem de Sa's nephew Estacio de Sa founds the city of Sao Sebastiao do Rio de Janeiro in the area located between Sugarloaf Mountain and the Cara de Cao mountain, in the district that is today known as Urca
1763
The capital of the colony is transferred
from Salvador to Rio de Janeiro
1808
The Portuguese Royal Family lands in Rio de Janeiro, having left home after the invasion of French troops under the command of Napoleon. Rio de Janeiro becomes the seat of the Portuguese monarchy, a status that lasted until 1821
1822
Brazil’s independence is proclaimed by Dom Pedro on
7 September, ending the country's status as a colony of Portugal. Adopting the name Dom Pedro I, he becomes the first Emperor of Brazil
1851
The first official sailing regatta takes place in Botafogo Bay, between the Praia Vermelha fortress and the old Botafogo ferry bridge
1858
Inauguration of the Central do Brasil railway line and its famous station
1888
On 13 May, Princess Isabel passes the Aurea Law, abolishing slavery in Brazil
1889
On 15 November, Marshal Deodoro da Fonseca proclaims the Republic of Brazil in Praca da Aclamacao (now Praca da Republica) in Rio de Janeiro, ending the rule of the monarchy
1896
Rio is the location of the first movie shown in Brazil
1905
Avenida Central (currently Avenida Rio Branco), the principal symbol of the urban reform taking place in the city, is inaugurated. This is still one of the main roads in Rio
1909
The Municipal Theatre, another impressive architectural symbol of Rio’s development, opens on
14 July in the Cinelandia district
1912
Flamengo and Fluminense football teams face each other for the first time in what has since become the classic city derby, known as Fla-Flu. Fluminense won 3-2
1918
Establishment of Cordao da Bola Preta, the oldest carnival
bloco
(street band) in Rio
1931
Inauguration of the Christ the Redeemer statue on top of Corcovado Mountain
1932
The city hosts the first official samba school parade, which will come to be the main attraction of Rio Carnival. That year’s winner was the Mangueira samba school
1950
Inauguration of the Maracana Stadium, which stages the football World Cup final. In a shock result, Brazil lose 2-1 to Uruguay. In 2016, it will stage the opening and closing ceremonies, as well as football matches
1954
Maracanazinho Arena opens its doors to a large variety of sports. During the Rio 2016 Games, it will host the volleyball
1960
Brazil’s capital is transferred from
Rio de Janeiro to Brasilia
1964
A military coup establishes a dictatorship in Brazil
1965
Inauguration of Flamengo Park, one of the city’s main sport and leisure locations. It was built on land reclaimed from the sea in Guanabara Bay, using earth from the demolition of several nearby hills.
1969
Pele scores his 1,000th goal, a penalty for Santos against Vasco de Gama, at the Maracana Stadium
1974
The Rio-Niteroi bridge, one of the largest
in the world, is opened
1979
The Rio de Janeiro metro starts operating, initially with only five stations: Praca Onze, Central, Presidente Vargas, Cinelandia and Gloria
1983
Football makes way for volleyball at the Maracana Stadium, where a match between Brazil and the USSR draws a record 90,000 fans
1984
Inauguration of the Sambodromo, the stage for Rio’s Carnival parade. At the 2016 Games, the marathon start/finish and archery competitions will be held here
1985
After 20 years in power, Brazil’s
dictatorship comes to an end
1987
Ipanema hosts the first international
beach volleyball tournament
2002
Rio’s residents are animated as the city stages the South American Games
2007
5,623 athletes from 42 countries participate in the Pan American Games, held in Rio. Crowds then cheer 1,115 athletes from 25 countries during the Parapan American Games
2009
On 2 October, the city of Rio de Janeiro is elected to host the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games
2014
Germany wins the football World Cup for the fourth time by beating Argentina in the final
at the Maracana Stadium
2016
The first Olympic and Paralympic Games in South America are staged in Rio de Janeiro!
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