IPANEMA

Description

Essentials about Ipanema in brief

Next to Copacabana Beach, Ipanema Beach is the second most important and famous beaches of Rio de Janeiro. The two beaches more or less merge and are separated only by the rocky outcrop Arpoador and the former coastal fortifications of Fort Copacabana. The Ipanema neighborhood is popular with locals and tourists alike, mainly because of its many galleries, bookstores, cinemas and restaurants. The most famous attraction of Ipanema is the so-called Hippie Market, which attracts thousands and thousands of people every Sunday.

Ipanema Beach

Like almost all beaches in Rio, the Ipanema Beach is also divided into individual sections that are frequented by different groups of people. In front of the Country Club, for example, the rich and beautiful of the city cavort and the so-called Ipanema Frame at the Rua Farme de Amoedo is the beach section for the gay and lesbian scene of Rio. But straight couples, families and singles are also welcome guests at the Ipanema Frame due to the open atmosphere.

The Ipanema district

Ipanema is also the name of the neighborhood adjoining the beach, which gained worldwide fame through the song “The Girl from Ipanema” by Antônio Carlos Jobim. To the west, Ipanema merges with the upscale Leblon district, and to the north, the Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon borders the neighborhood.

Ipanema is one of the most affluent neighborhoods in Rio. Because of its many avant-garde galleries, bookstores and cinemas, many people refer to the neighborhood as “Little Paris“. However, Ipanema is also a popular meeting place for cariocas (Rio residents) and tourists because of its excellent gastronomic scene.

The Ipanema Hippie Market

Probably the most famous attraction of Ipanema is the so-called Hippie Market, which takes place here every Sunday on Praça General Osório from 9 am to 5 pm. The Hippie Market is a true institution of Ipanema and all of Rio, as it has existed since 1968, when it was founded by a small group of hippies. Today, the market is no longer small – it has grown to over 700 stalls. The Hippie Market is a fanstastic place to browse a huge selection of art and design pieces, from traditional Brazilian handicrafts to modern art, clothing and jewelry. Accordingly, the market is popular with locals and tourists alike. The latter group will hardly find a better place to buy typical Brazilian souvenirs. Prices at the market, by the way, are negotiable. So, with a little skill (and friendliness, of course), you can grab some good bargains at the Hippie Market.