Copacabana
Categories: Rio de Janeiro neighborhoods | Beaches of Brazil
- For other uses, see Copacabana (disambiguation).
Copacabana is a district located in the southern zone of the city Rio de Janeiro, famous for its 4 km beach.
The district was originally called Sacopenapã until the mid-18th century. It was renamed after the construction of a chapel holding a replica of the Virgin of Copacabana, Bolivia. It was incorporated into the city on July 6 1892.
Copacabana starts at the beginning of the Princesa Isabel Avenue, and ends at Posto Seis (lifeguard watchtower six) nearby the Forte de Copacabana (Stronghold of Copacabana). After Copacabana there is the small beach of Arpoador, followed by the famous borough of Ipanema and then, the borough of Leblon. The Copacabana beach spans from Posto Dois (lifeguard watchtower two) to Posto Seis (lifeguard watchtower six). Leme is at Posto Um (lifeguard watchtower one).
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Character
Rio de Janeiro must have truly been breathtaking when the Portuguese arrived hundreds of years ago. The hills that rise behind Copacabana and Ipanema are luxurious and green and wide beaches with islands dotted around the harbour. Currently, the reality is that Copacabana is home to 400,000 people making it one of the most congested neighbourhoods in the world.
The promenade is dotted with expensive hotels, restaurants, bars, night clubs and residencials buildings.
Safety
The safety of the Copacabana beach, mostly toward tourists, is good but it´s not recommended that tourists should leave their bags alone, or carry equipment such as expensive cameras or camcorders.
General
This is where the two metro stations can be found for underground transport to the rest of the city. This is preferable as the traffic jams during the day can become critical.
External links
- History of Copacabana (in Portuguese)
- History of Copacabana (in English)
- Guide to being a Gringo in Rio de Janeiro - A look at how Brazilians see tourists in Copacabana.
de:Copacabana (Rio de Janeiro) fr:Copacabana no:Copacabana pt:Copacabana