a very small and exclusive neighborhood, urca sits just east of botafogo,  in rio de janeiro. it occupies the peninsula that makes up the west side of the mouth of guanabara bay and shields botafogo cove from the atlantic ocean.

it is the smallest neighborhood in rio and has a population of just under 7,000 inhabitants, yet many sites of natural and cultural significance are found within its limits.  given its position at the entrance of guanabara bay, urca was very important in the earliest days of rio de janeiro -in fact, praia de fora is where in 1565 rio de janeiro was founded, and nearby fort são joão still stands after almost 400 years.