SOUTHEAST BRAZIL - Brazil - page 72

opening in 1923. It has hosted
both authentic royalty and the
royalty of the entertainment
world, including Queen
Elizabeth II and Marlene
Dietrich. The hotel continues
to draw celebrities, as well as
gays and transvestites.
The beachfront kiosk bars
lining Avenue Atlântica - the
road that runs the length of
the beach - are popular. The
entire length of Copacabana
is divided into stations
( postos ). Postos 5 and 6 attract
older residents and favela
youngsters. The fresh catch
of the day can be bought at
Posto 7 - at the southern end
- known as the posto de
pescadores (fisherman's post).
P Forte de Copacabana
Av Atlântica Posto 6 . Tel [phone]
1032.

Bustling Copacabana beach, popular with locals and holiday-makers

Copacabana u
q Siqueira Campos . n Av Princesa
Isabel 183, [phone], 2542
8084.

Built in 1914, on the
promontory of the chapel as
Rio's defense against attack,
the Forte de Copacabana
offers scenic views of the
entire sweep of Copacabana.
The main attraction of
Copacabana is the beach
which, along with Leme,
constitutes a magnificent 3-
mile (5-km) stretch from Le
Meridien hotel in the north on
the corner of Avenida Princesa
Isabel, to the Forte de
Copacabana and Sofitel Rio in
the south. Until 1892, it had
been a leading trek for those
from the city to reach
Copacabana. In that year, a
tunnel was cut through from
Botafogo to Copacabana,
followed by a second tunnel in
1904 that allowed the trams to
reach the beach. The real
turning point, however, was
the creation of the Neo-
Classical Copacabana Palace
hotel (see p368) , a part of the
fabric of Rio life since its

One of the world's most
celebrated beaches,
Copacabana is the center of
Rio's tourist trade. On New
Year's eve, the neighborhood
becomes Rio's spiritual and
festive heart, as millions of
Cariocas and visitors take to
the beach to party, and honor
Yemanjá, Goddess of the Sea.
The name Copacabana, or
“Copa Caguana” (Luminous
Place) in Quechua, an ancient
language still spoken in Peru,
was given by the Incas to a
lovely site by the Lagoa
Titicaca, where they built a
temple. In the 17th century,
the captain of a Spanish gal-
leon erected a chapel in
honor of Our Lady of
Copacabana, who came to his
aid during a shipwreck.

# 10am-8pm Tue-Sun.

& 8 7

The imposing exterior of the
Copacabana Palace Hotel

MAP OF COPACABANA, IPANEMA & LEBLON

LEB LON

Lagoa
Rodrigo
de Freitas

Túnel Major
Rube ns Vaz

Clube de Regatas
Flame ngo

Cantagalo

Garcia
D'Ávila

Praia do Leblon

IPA NEMA

MORRO DOS
CABRITOS

Túne l Pref.
Sá Freire Alvin

Gene ral
Osó rio

Feira Hipp ie

Praia do
Arpoador

Forte de
Copacabana

Casssino
Shopping Centre

Key to Symbols see back flap

Praia do
Diablo

For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp366-9 and pp394-6