Lapa (Rio de Janeiro)
Encyclopedia
Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro , commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America, boasting approximately 6.3 million people within the city proper, making it the 6th...
, in Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
. It is located in the centre of Rio and is famous for its historical monuments and nightlife.
The neighbourhood is home to the Arcos da Lapa, an impressive aqueduct
Aqueduct
An aqueduct is a water supply or navigable channel constructed to convey water. In modern engineering, the term is used for any system of pipes, ditches, canals, tunnels, and other structures used for this purpose....
constructed in the mid-18th century by colonial authorities
Colonial Brazil
In the history of Brazil, Colonial Brazil, officially the Viceroyalty of Brazil comprises the period from 1500, with the arrival of the Portuguese, until 1815, when Brazil was elevated to kingdom alongside Portugal as the United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil and the Algarves.During the over 300 years...
. Another important historical attraction is the Passeio Público
Passeio Público
The Passeio Público is a public park in the historic centre of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Built after 1779, it is the oldest public park of Brazil and one of the oldest in the Americas.-History:...
, the first public park of the city, built in the 1780s.
Since the early 1950s, Lapa has been known for its lively cultural life, concentrating many restaurants and bars where Brazilian artists and intellectuals used to meet. It was, and still is, famous for its many restaurants, bars and clubs where the various forms of Brazilian music can be appreciated, like the Asa Branca bar and the Fundição Progresso. The Sala Cecília Meirelles, an important venue for chamber music
Chamber music
Chamber music is a form of classical music, written for a small group of instruments which traditionally could be accommodated in a palace chamber. Most broadly, it includes any art music that is performed by a small number of performers with one performer to a part...
, is also located in Lapa.
Arco da Lapa
The neighborhood of Lapa, Rio de Janeiro, known as the cradle of bohemian Rio is also famous for its architecture, starting with the Arcos - known as the Arcos da Lapa, constructed to act as conduit in the days of colonial Brazil and now serve as a signal for the cable cars that climb the hill of Santa Teresa.The Carioca Aqueduct is considered the architectural work of greater importance of Old Rio and one of the main symbols of the city. The impressive Roman-style building is 17.6 meters high, 270 meters long and 42 arches that connect the neighborhood of Santa Teresa to Morro de Santo Antonio. The Carioca Aqueduct was built in 1723, during the colonial Brazil, and was intended to lead water from the Carioca river height Morro do Desterro, on Santa Teresa for the Morro de Santo Antonio. The work would help solve the problem of water shortage in the city. Problem that was already old. Studies to bring the waters of the Carioca river to the city began in the early years of the seventeenth century, but the works of installing water pipes in Rio de Janeiro did not start until a century later.
In recent times the landscape of Lapa has been significantly amended. Where was the Square of the Brazilian armed forces (a square attached to the arches) today there is a huge Circo Voador. Arches Street, which crosses the aqueduct, was via a building occupied by trees, including the Progress Casting, which is now a venue. The neighborhood is born at the end of the south, where the road of glory becomes Rua da Lapa. Also on the border of Santa Teresa, climbing its slopes and the small neighborhood of Fatima.
In an attempt to rescue the vocation of the residential district was created the Movement I am da Lapa. Inspired by the famous advertising campaign "I love NY, who helped revitalize the American city that was in decline in the 1970s, the movement seeks to rescue the pride of saying" I'm da Lapa ". With government support and participation of the majority of shops in Lapa, the I Am da Lapa was spread around town, but with few effective achievements in the area of security, rehabilitation of the homeless and combating crime, old complaints from residents public authorities.
With the population density in other regions of the city and increased traffic, the neighborhood, which holds the headquarters and administrative buildings for many large companies (Petrobras, BNDES, etc..) As well as numerous commercial buildings of high standard at Avenida Chile (Ventura I and II, etc..), has also attracted the attention of residents of the north, south and west of Rio de Janeiro, eager to live close to work at the Center, escaping the congestion. Therefore newly launched residential projects providing comprehensive infrastructure or structure apart-hotel (Viva Lapa, Lapa colors, etc..) Have exhausted their sales in full release, which clearly shows the pent-up demand for housing in standard high in the neighborhood.
Culture
Reference point for lovers of nightlife, one of the striking features of the neighborhood is the harmony that living with the most diverse urban tribes. Since the 1950s, when it began to be called the "Montmartre Carioca", Lapa attracted intellectuals, artists, politicians and especially the people of Rio, who come together to celebrate the sambaSamba
Samba is a Brazilian dance and musical genre originating in Bahia and with its roots in Brazil and Africa via the West African slave trade and African religious traditions. It is recognized around the world as a symbol of Brazil and the Brazilian Carnival...
, forró
Forró
Forró is a kind of Northeastern Brazilian dance as well as a word used to denote the different genres of music which accompanies the dance. Both are much in evidence during the annual Festa Junina , a part of Brazilian traditional culture which celebrates some Catholic saints...
, MPB (musica popular brasileira), choro
Choro
Choro , traditionally called chorinho , is a Brazilian popular music instrumental style. Its origins are in 19th century Rio de Janeiro. In spite of the name, the style often has a fast and happy rhythm, characterized by virtuosity, improvisation, subtile modulations and full of syncopation and...
and more recently, electronic music and rock.
For the major pathways, Mem de Sá, Rua do Riachuelo Street and Lavradio, spread attractions such as the Sala Cecilia Meireles, who is considered the best concert of chamber music existing in Rio.
The Public Promenade, the National School of Music and the Church of Our Lady of Lapa do Desterro are references to the tourist who wants to see a sample of the architecture of old Rio.
Music
As highlights of the night, there are the famous Asa Branca, the main stronghold of forró, bars Seed, where there have been artists such as Teresa and the group Casuarina, Ernesto, Coffee Cultural Sacrilege beyond the River and Scenarium Carioca da Gema, where absolute reign wheels samba. Recently opened the gaff Lapa 40 Graus, in Brook Street next to the traditional Democratic Club, which had space for the dance, the samba, choro and gaff.For the public that prefers electronic music and rock concerts, there is the Progress and Casting Flying Circus, opened in 2004. There is also a plethora of bars and venues that cater to all tastes.