If the idea of "flying down to Rio" for the 2016 Olympic Games appeals, here's a snapshot of Cidada Maravilhosa (that's Rio speak for "The Marvelous City").

Rio will be the first South American city to host the Olympics and the second in Latin America — 48 years after Mexico City hosted in 1968.

The city started as a Portuguese settlement in 1567, and was Brazil's capital from 1763 to 1960, after which Brasilia took over the honor.

Rio's population is around 11.5 million.

Residents are called cariocas, thought to come from kara i'oca, a Tupi Indian word meaning "white house," from the masonry that newcomers used in their buildings.

The city is most famous for its February carnival, samba, soccer obsession and the hotel-lined tourist beaches Copacabana and Ipanema.

Rio's famous landmarks also include the giant statue of Christ, Cristo Redentor (Christ the Redeemer), atop Corcovado mountain; Sugarloaf mountain (Pao de Acucar) with its cable car; the Sambodromo, a giant permanent parade stand used during Carnival, and Maracana stadium, one of the world's largest.

THINGS TO DO

See: the city unfold beneath the outstretched arms of the Cristo Redentor.

Eat: bolo (cake) with cafezinho (little coffee).

Do: Take a volleyball class on famous Ipanema Beach. Volleyball is the cariocas' second most-popular sport, after soccer.

Thrill seek: by hang gliding at Pedra Bonita (Beautiful Rock). After a short flight, gliders land on Praia do Pepino (Cucumber Beach).

Look at: Portuguese, English and French architecture. Rio's wonderful old buildings contrast with the high-rise ultra-modern city.

After dark: Suit up for samba. The birthplace of the bossa nova, Rio today hosts samba, jazz, hip-hop, Brazilian, electronic, reggae, and fusions of those.

Be there: For Rio Carnival 2010. The city's wild four-day Mardi Gras celebration (rio-carnival.net) this year runs Feb. 13 to 16, with some 500,000 visitors expected from around the world.