The king and queen of Brazil’s renowned Rio de Janeiro carnival visited Cyprus’ carnival capital Limassol on Friday night.

According to the Cyprus News Agency, the pair “danced to the rhythms of samba” to mark the Mi-Carême – the middle of Lent.

Mayor Yiannis Armeftis described the night as “another special moment for our city’s cultural identity, the city of carnival and joy”/

“Tonight, the Limassol carnival transcends borders and connects traditions from different corners of the world. Just as samba inspires, so do our singers, who travel to the romantic nostalgia of the songs and keep alive the unique tradition of the Limassol carnival,” he said.

He added that the Limassol carnival is “not just a masquerade celebration, but a living tradition which embraces generations and highlights our music and culture”, and that the visit of Rio de Janeiro’s carnival king and queen “brought the true spirit of Brazil, transforming our event into an authentic carnival celebration”.