Photo: Sandor Bordas · CC BY-SA 3.0 · editedUrca
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Núcleo de digitalização / IMS · Public domain · edited
Why go
- Forte São João, an early 17th-century Portuguese fort with several original cannons, at the foot of Sugarloaf Mountain
- The climbing path up Sugarloaf Mountain, which begins behind Praia Vermelha beach
- The plaque on Rua São Sebastião marking the house Carmen Miranda rented, one of the oldest streets in Rio
Tips for your visit
- Pista Cláudio Coutinho is a local walking trail linked to Urca, an option for a walk after the sights at the foot of Sugarloaf.
- Urca is a residential area of small apartment blocks and houses, so expect quiet streets rather than a busy centre.
- Forte São João and the lower station of the Bondinho cable car both stand at the foot of Sugarloaf Mountain in Urca.
Interesting facts4
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Urca is an old Portuguese word for a cargo ship, small or large.
Urca - Wikipedia -
Two scientists named a neutrino model of star cooling after the casino in Urca.
Urca - Wikipedia -
2014
The football field beside the gymnasium served as a training ground for England's squad at the 2014 World Cup.
Urca - Wikipedia -
The Morro da Babilônia hill separates Urca from Leme, the district to the south.
Urca - Wikipedia
Shorts
History
The fort dates from the early 17th century and has several original cannons. From the 1920s the Urbanização Carioca project opened the land for building, and the first houses went up in 1922. Most houses date from the late 1920s to the late 1940s, in styles such as art deco. The casino was meant to rival the casino of the Copacabana Palace hotel.
- 1565The first Portuguese settlement in Rio is founded at Forte São João, at the foot of Sugarloaf Mountain.
- early 17th centuryForte São João is built; it has several original cannons.
- 19th centuryBuilding in Rio reaches only Botafogo and the Palácio Universitário area in Urca.
- 1922The first houses are built on the reclaimed land of the new neighbourhood.
- 1938Singer Carmen Miranda is discovered by a Hollywood producer while performing at the casino.
Show all
- 1946A federal ban on casinos closes the casino.
- late 1980sThe TV Tupi studios in the building close, and the casino stands abandoned until 2008.
- TodayThe former casino is being renovated to become a design institute.
Sources: Urca - Wikipedia · Urca - Wikipedia · Urca - Wikipedia · checked 25 Oct 2026
Questions and answers
Where is Urca in Rio de Janeiro?
Urca is a residential neighbourhood in the south of Rio de Janeiro, with nearly 7,000 residents. It lies at the foot of Sugarloaf Mountain, and the Morro da Babilônia hill separates it from Leme.
Where does the Bondinho cable car start in Urca?
The lower station of the Bondinho cable car is in Urca, at the foot of Sugarloaf Mountain. The climbing path up the mountain begins behind Praia Vermelha beach.
Is there a walking trail near Urca?
Yes. Pista Cláudio Coutinho is a local walking trail linked to Urca. It is an option for a walk after the sights at the foot of Sugarloaf.
What is Forte São João in Urca?
Forte São João is an early 17th-century Portuguese fort at the foot of Sugarloaf Mountain, with several original cannons. The first Portuguese settlement in Rio was founded there in 1565.
Which buildings in Urca are Art Deco?
Most houses in Urca date from the late 1920s to the late 1940s, in styles such as art deco. A gymnasium built in 1932 is among the nearby Art Deco buildings.
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