MSC MUSICA: Paranagua - Paranagua - 06.02.2027. - 8 days

     The Brazilian island resort of Ilhabela is renowned for its extraordinary and varied beaches. There are at least 50 beaches in the vicinity in a wide range of landscapes, including sweeping bays, rocky inlets and wide shorelines. Some have extensive facilities for watersports and other beach activities, others are devoted to the art of relaxation amid a beautiful natural environment that attracts a wide variety of bird life.
     A canal leading to the mainland, with strong winds and currents, is particularly popular with windsurfers and sailors. The island, including the district of São Sebastião, beautifully displays Brazilian efforts to develop seaside facilities in harmony with nature.
     Long before attracting thousands of tourists with its charm, Ilhabela was a popular destination with pirates and buccaneers who used its bays and canal for shelter while they counted their treasure or made repairs to their ships. Some were so taken with the surrounding beauty that they settled in the area, becoming fishermen and building homes.
     According to the language of the Tupinambá natives, the island's original name was 'Ciribaí' which means 'peaceful place'. The area was given the name São Sebastião during journeys to the new continent by Italian navigator Amérigo Vespucci, who presented it to the Portuguese Crown.
     The island's commerce flourished during the 17th and 18th centuries, with the creation of several villages, including Villa Bella da Princeza, which with 3,000 inhabitants was the most highly populated centre in the archipelago, with extensive sugar cane plantations. Unsurprisingly, the most flourishing industry today is tourism.

     The cityscape of Rio de Janeiro and its spectacular surroundings are one of the world's magnificent scenes. It combines a vibrant, teeming city with glorious coastline and awe-inspiring landscape. The area was first discovered in 1502 by a relatively unknown Portuguese navigator, Gaspar de Lemos. He called the city Rio de Janeiro, 'January River', because he thought he was at the mouth of a river and that the adjacent bays were a miracle of geology. Initially, the Portuguese did not focus much attention on the area, despite its natural beauty, and preferred the more spiritual Salvador.
     Consequently Rio was subjected to several influences, notably periods of French and Spanish rule. The Portuguese gained control again in the 16th Century and over a period of 150 years erected a series of six major forts along the coast and in the hills. The city became a departure point for large amounts of gold extracted inland to be shipped to the Iberian coast. Inevitably this precious cargo attracted the attention of pirates and Rio was attacked on a number of occasions, the most serious of which was in 1711 when the city was set on fire. Despite this and hostilities from native Indians, during the 1800s thousands of European settlers continued to come to the city to seek their fortune.
     The biggest influx was from Germany, Italy and Portugal. The present population of Rio is some seven million people, Brazil's second largest city. The statue of Christ towering above Rio on Corcovado mountain is one of the world's best known sights, along with Påo de Açucar (Sugar Loaf Mountain). The Rio coastline along the Atlantic Ocean extends for some 320km and includes probably the best known beach in the world, Copacabana, as well as several other excellent beaches, notably Ipanema and Barra.
     The luxury hotels that line the coast form a striking contrast to the favelas shanty towns on the hillsides behind. According to a local saying, happiness is found in the small things: a cool beer on the beach ('chopp' is cheaper than water), the rhythms of samba music, a jog along the Copacabana. Plus of course the world-famous Rio carnival and the national obsession - soccer. The Brazilian joy for life, 'saudade', is symbolised in the thrilling city of Rio.