  We study arithmetical and geometrical properties of maximal curves, that is,
curves defined over the finite field F_{q^2} whose number of F_{q^2}-rational
points reaches the Hasse-Weil upper bound. Under a hypothesis on non-gaps at a
rational point, we prove that maximal curves are F_{q^2}-isomorphic to y^q + y
= x^m, for some $m \in Z^+$. As a consequence we show that a maximal curve of
genus g=(q-1)^2/4 is F_{q^2}-isomorphic to the curve y^q + y = x^{(q+1)/2}.
