numerous mansions were built in the area in the nineteenth century, of which many have been preserved and can still be seen today.

one of the neighborhood's main attractions is botafogo beach. with an overall length of some 700 meters, it is one of the smaller beaches in the city, but nonetheless one of the most beautiful, with excellent views of neighboring sugar loaf and of guanabara bay.

while the water is not suitable for swimming, sailing is particularly popular in botafogo cove, as its waters are generally calm due to the shelter provided by the urca peninsula.