Copacabana - The Little Princess Of The Sea

Copacabana was first known by the Indian name Sacopenapã, it changed name in the 18th century when some Spanish built a chapel they named after a Bolivian apparation of Mary. The little church was located where you have the Fort of Copacabana today.

It remained largely unpopulated until the tunnel connecting Copacabana with Botafogo was built in 1892. After that big luxury residences started to get constructed and an infra structure slowly came to be. The famous beachwalk, its pattern designed by Roberto Burle-Marx, was ready in 1906.

A big turning point was when the hotel Copacabana Palace, inaugurated 1923, started to attract Hollywood stars. Soon the name got known around the world and a literal real estate boom took place. Everyone wanted to live close to the stars. In the beginning it was weekend flats that was built, pretty soon residential apartments also became common. In just 50 years almost all of Copacabana got constructed, the beach was widened and Avenida Atlântica turned into a 6 lane highway.

At the same time as this boom another development took place. People from the poor Northeast came to Rio in search for jobs, the favelas shot up. In the 1960´s the economy became weaker, people got unemployed and crime became a real presence. Prostitutes, scoundrels and drug trade came to stay. Before Rio de Janeiro was so safe you didn´t have to lock your car. Since the 1970´s the population has grown gradually older, the crime heavier and the whole area more run down. The introduction of crack the last few years has made the street crime less under control and immediate action is necessary.

But all is not looking bad, there is hope. A younger generation is moving in, a generation that put more pressure on politicians to solve the problems. Steps have been taken to move the biggest stain of them all, the prostitution nightclub Help from its prominent position in the middle of Copacabana Beach - a literal symbol of decadence. Some clubs and bars with a higher international profile has opened. What is needed is strong willed minds to turn the tide, Copacabana has the potential to again become what it is called - The Little Princess of The Sea (A Princesinha do Mar).

Gringo-Rio Copacabana
This is the page about the neighborhood Copacabana on the Rio de Janeiro travel site Gringo-Rio.