CalçadãodeCopacabana

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Image description: This is a photograph of the Calçadão de Copacabana. The image shows a pavement with black and white geometric patterns, extending from the foreground to the horizon. On the left, we see the sea, while on the right there is a road running parallel to the boardwalk. In the background, tall buildings and trees are arranged along the beach.

The Copacabana Boardwalk, a cultural landmark of Rio de Janeiro, is one of the most famous sights in the world. Yet this symbol, one of the most iconic in the city, is not a local creation. It was constructed using Portuguese stones (white limestone and black basalt), during the great transformations championed by Mayor Pereira Passos in the early 20th century. The undulating design along Avenida Atlântica is a reproduction of the pattern seen in Rossio Square in Lisbon.

To ensure fidelity to the original design, the Copacabana promenade was laid by pavers brought from the Portuguese capital. Building work commenced in 1906 and lasted around two years. The Boardwalk originally featured a quite different design, running perpendicular to the beach.

Image description: This is a black-and-white photograph of a coastal boardwalk. On the left, we see the sea with waves breaking on the beach. In the center, there is a strip of sand separating the sea from the boardwalk. On the right, the boardwalk is paved with stones in geometric patterns. People are walking along the boardwalk, some near the sea, others farther away. In the background, there are buildings and mountains. In the upper right, the sky is partly cloudy. In the lower right corner, there is a signature and date: "Leme Rio 15-7-921 7095".

Augusto Malta. Storm surge at Leme Beach, Rio de Janeiro, 1921. Pedro Corrêa do Lago Collection, Moreira Salles Institute.

Between the 1920s and the 1950s, Copacabana became the symbol of a modern and glamorous Rio. When Walt Disney, acting as cultural envoy for the United States in Brazil, under the so-called ‘Good Neighbor Policy’, created the character Zé Carioca to show Donald Duck around Brazil, the wavy design on the pavement beneath their feet left no doubts as to where they were – while at the same time cementing Copacabana´s role as a national symbol.

Image description: This image is a colorful animated illustration. On the left side, we see a character with a blue hat and a white shirt, appearing to be dancing. Beside them is another character wearing a green hat and a yellow shirt, also dancing. Both are standing on a sidewalk with wavy patterns. In the background, we see green foliage and part of a building.

The design change happened when the boardwalk was dismantled during sanitation improvements and the widening of Avenida Atlântica between 1969 and 1971. The renowned landscape architect Roberto Burle Marx was in charge of reconstructing the promenade and with his touch of genius he turned the pattern around to create the design we know today—giving the appearance that the pavement is a continuation of the sea.

Image description: This is a black-and-white photograph of a majestic palace. On the left side, we see a series of columns forming the main building. In the center, there is a large dome with ornamental details. On the right, there is a lower structure, also featuring decorative elements. The background shows a mountain covered with vegetation.

Photo by Bernard Hermann, 1974. Featured in the book “RIO” - Les du Pacifique / Distribuidora Record

Nowadays, the wide black and white waves in a repeating pattern with alternating tones, adorn bags, shirts and appear in films, songs, works of art, and advertisements celebrating the Rio de Janeiro lifestyle.

Image description: This is a photograph of the Calçadão de Copacabana. The image shows a beach with palm trees along the waterfront. In the foreground, there is a black and white geometric pattern. In the background, there is a hill covered with green vegetation. The sky is blue with a few white clouds. In the distance, people are relaxing on the beach.

Donatas Dabravolskas. Copacabana Boardwalk, undated. Reproduction Wikimedia Commons

Image description: The image shows two logos. On the left side, there is a blue shield with a crown and decorative elements, followed by the text "Rio Prefeitura Turismo" in blue. On the right side, there is a logo with the phrase "Rio Memórias" in orange, inside a square with vertical lines.