set behind the morro dois irmãos in the zona sul of the city, separating the two districts of são conrado and gávea, rocinha is known for being the largest favela in latin america, with a an estimated population of 150,000 inhabitants.

the community emerged in the early 20th century with the arrival of portuguese, french and italian farmers who settled in small plots of land and began growing vegetables - by the end of the 1950s, more immigrants arrived, particularly from other regions of the country, such as the mining and agricultural northeastern regions.

the name 'rocinha' is thought to originate from vendors, who would inform the elite class of people making purchases that the produce came from a 'little farm', or 'rocinha'.