Rio de Janeiro and Its Coastline: History, Projects, and Carioca Identity

Abstract

It would be impossible to think about the relationships between the city, the beach, and society in Rio de Janeiro without considering two aspects. The first of these is the process of the formation of Rio’s beaches, that is, the physical and urban transformations that took place during the transition from a port city to a beach city. The geographical characteristics of this city and its evolution over more than 440 years since its foundation ended up transforming the beaches adjacent to the historic center into a modern commercial port and a passenger port. In this process, the southern and Atlantic beaches became dedicated to leisure for the population, a fact that makes Rio a “resort city” and an important tourist hub in Brazil.