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Rocinha Favela photo by Chensiyuan-

Top 10 Astonishing Facts about Rocinha Favela

Rocinha is the largest Favela in Brazil and it is located in Rio de Janeiro鈥檚 south zone between the districts of Sao Conrado and Gavea.

Moreover, Rocinha is built on a steep hillside overlooking Rio de Janeiro and is located about one kilometer from a nearby beach.

However, most of the Favela is on a very steep hill with many trees surrounding it.

Although Rocinha is officially classified as a neighborhood many still refer to it as a Favela.

Furthermore, around 180,000 people live in Rocinha making it the most populous favela in Brazil. Here are the top 10 astonishing facts about Rocinha Favela.

1. Rocinha Favela has a Stunning Setting

Rocinha Favela photo by chensiyuan-

Rocinha Favela has a stunning setting however it has a 200ha area on a sea-facing hang that spans from Dois Irmaos peak to the majestic rock you see from Ipanema beach.

Moreover, Rocinha was once Rio鈥檚 farmland and in the area around it were the sugarcane fields and coffee plantations.

However, the workers who worked on the farms wanted to live close to their work and therefore they built small homes in the thick jungle where Rocinha is located today.

Furthermore, the rapid growth of the favela in the early 20^th century was due to the growing demand for cheap labor to build the infrastructure of the surrounding neighborhoods and the lack of housing options.

2. The residents of Rocinha love their Community  

Rocinha Favela photo by Alicia Nijdam-

The residents of Rocinha love their community and they work hard to improve their living conditions and speak up from the many associations they have created.

Moreover, they are proud of the community and the first thing you hear is that Rocinha is a much safer place in terms of petty crime than the wealthier surrounding areas.

3. Rocinha Favela loves Music

Rocinha Favela photo by Chensiyuan-

Rocinha Favela loves music especially samba, funk carioca and forro.

You can be able to hear it from the windows while walking around and at weekends Baile Funk in English means Funk dance which is an event that has grown so popular that even it attracts local celebrities.

Furthermore, Rocinha Favela has also a samba school called Academicos da Rocinha that is good enough to parade at the Sambodrome during the Rio Carnival.

4. Rocinha Favela has Beautiful Architecture

Rocinha Favela photo by Alex Petrenko-

Rocinha Favela has beautiful constructions however in 2010 Rocinha got a pedestrian bridge designed by the Rio-born architect Oscar Niemeyer who allegedly did the work pro bono.

Moreover, funded by the Growth Acceleration Program resources the bridge links the community with the new sports facilities.

Furthermore, the same Growth Acceleration Program has financed a lovely social housing complex in Rua 4.

And the project by Atelier Metropolitano is built on a former bus depot and houses local residents that have been evicted by the widening of the road Rua 4.

However, they received the flats for free and will after 5 years gets full rights on them.

5. Rocinha Favela has Lovely Streets

In an extraordinary upgrading operation, a small alley Rua 4 was widened to a 12m landscaped road.

However, before the works the alley was 60cms wide and had according to the Municipal Health Authorities one of the highest tuberculosis incident rates in the country.

Furthermore, the new road is a wonderful space with brightly painted buildings, small squares and stairs linking the various levels.

Interestingly according to Rio on Watch there aren鈥檛 any drug stands or armed guards there.

6. Rocinha Favela has Leisure Activities that One could Indulge in

Besides the dancing, the beach, and the stunning hiking there is also a new sports complex.

The place has a swimming pool, sporting courts, a gym, a football field, a surf school, and a skate ramp. However, it was built with the purpose of getting kids into sports and forge some Olympic champions.

7. Rocinha Favela shares a Public Beach

Rocinha Favela shares a public beach and it鈥檚 just a few minutes walks from Rocinha鈥檚 Sao Corrado entrance its along stretch of a sandy beach.

Moreover, it is a wonderful asset regardless of water quality and a place to expand shall high density feels too oppressing.  

8. Rocinha Favela has a Fantastic Efficient Transport System

There are vans and motorcycle taxis moving people around in the community for R$2,50.

However the moto taxis work brilliantly and there are stands in various spots but you can stop them anywhere. They can carry a spare helmet and are quite fun to ride.

9. Rocinha Favela has Caring, Friendly and Proud Residents

According to the Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estastica Rocinha has 69,161 residents but Leo the President of a local resident鈥檚 association set the number to be between 180,000 and 220,000.

Moreover, one of these extraordinary residents and a game changer is Lino dos Santos Filho known as Tio Lino.

With the motto 鈥�trade your weapon for a brush鈥� he set up Rocinha Mundo da Arte which is an organization that teaches music and arts to children with the intention of keeping them away from drug trafficking.

1O. Rocinha Favela has an NGO Foundation that Teaches Children and Adults English for Free

In the year 1998 an NGO called Two Brothers foundation was founded in the slum in order to teach children and adults how to read and write in English for free.

However as of the year 2012 the organization had seven fulltime staff members and about 50 volunteers from all over the world who join the program in order to help educate the residents of Rocinha.