not internationally famous like the enormous rocinha and the chic vidigal, the favela providência is often overlooked by most visitors, despite its unmatched symbolic importance among all favelas in rio de janeiro.

morro da providência (providence hill) is located in the port area of rio de janeiro, between the neighborhoods of santo cristo and gamboa -just north of downtown. it has a significant place in carioca and brazilian history as the city's first favela, and source of origin for the term 'favela'.