In addition to party-goers, the beach becomes a religious ritual site as worshipers of Candomblé and Umbanda leave offerings to their gods in the sea and make silent prayers as the fireworks and whoops of the crowd ring in the background. In 1970, Hildebrando de Goes Filho, a hydraulic engineer and president of CBD-cia, led a team to completely change the structure of Copacabana’s coastline by creating a large landfill. All Rights Reserved. The view to the left of Copacabana beach is the towering mountain of Sugar Loaf and Fort Duque de Caxias built in 1779. Much of her cargo of oranges was washed up upon the beach. On a summer’s weekend, the place gets packed and beach-goers will find themselves jostling for a spot on the sand, yet the crowds bring life and energy to the shoreline and the background samba beats puts a spring in everyone’s step. Another fort is Fort Copacabana. A Short History of Copacabana Beach: Rio's Most Iconic Shoreline A four-kilometer stretch of yellow-gold sand, Copacabana beach is one of Rio de Janeiro’s most iconic and visited attractions. It then stretches to Posto 2 (lifeguard point 2) before it seamlessly blends into Leme Beach. Culture Trip stands with Black Lives Matter. Following the beach is the famous black and white promenade patterned with a wavy motif that was inspired by Portuguese pavements from the 1930s. | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Contact Us. It's a great place to walk out to over look the sea. Here are five cool facts about Copacabana beach. A feature in the movie Flying Down to Rio starring Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire elevated Copacabana Palace’s stardom and turned it into an iconic attraction. Stretching 4km, Copacabana is the longest Rio city beach! It was Roberto Burl Marx, a Brazilian landscape architect, that brought the idea to Brazil and replicated the Portuguese design in Copacabana in 1970. Plenty of Refreshments – Copacabana Beach has tons of vendors so getting a refreshment is never difficult. Paved throughout with carrara marble and adorned with classic paintings and ornate chandeliers, Copacabana Palace creates an air of elegance and sophistication and has hosted a wealth of famous guests such as The Rolling Stones, Marilyn Monroe and Michael Jackson. On the right is Copacabana Fort, which dates back to 1914. The transformation was a success and quick-thinking businesses started to spring up, providing restaurants, hotels and beach kiosks for the growing number of tourists to the region. Once a small crescent of sand, it was transformed into the thriving, tourist hotspot it’s known as today. From businessmen to entertainers and fun seekers, Copacabana Beach has room for everyone. You’ll find numerous quaint small bars alongside the main street of AVenida Atlantica with fruit beverages, beer, sandwiches and snacks. There were two reasons for this – the first was to widen Avenida Atlantica avenue and build a more advanced sewage system, and the second was to extend the width of the beach to prevent the sea reaching the main roads and flooding properties there. Besides the hundreds of thousands of people that flock to Copacabana beach each year for Carnival celebrations and Gay Pride, New Year’s Eve is by far the largest event of them all that takes place on its sandy shores. Facts about Copacabana Beach 7: Fort Copacabana. A striking four kilometer stretch of fine sand and incredible visuals, Copacabana Beach is a whirlwind of movement; beach vendors relentlessly stroll up and down in the heat selling their goods, bronzed bodies soak up the sun, tourists drink coconuts and there’s countless games of football and volleyball. There is a subtle transition between … Your email address will not be published. On the west end of Copacabana Beach, out on the point, is the 1914 Forte de Copacabana with it's 30 feet block walls. Edged by busy kiosks and towering palm trees, Copacabana beach is a frenzy of activity: sunbathers routinely switch sides to get the perfect tan; beach vendors brave Rio’s relentless sun to sell drinks, food and souvenirs; sports enthusiasts play games of football, surf, run, or slam a volleyball over the net. These huge events attract hordes of people, and Copacabana beach continues to reel in visitors throughout the year thanks to its iconic status and pleasant all-year-round climate. It was ... Facts about Copacabana Beach 9: the importance of Copacabana Beach.