the pedra de itapuca was originally connected to the shore via a natural arch of rock that was demolished in 1840 to make way for the seaside road and the neighborhood. 

legend says that in the rock still live the spirits of jurema and cauby. 

against the laws of her tribe, jurema was an indigenous girl in love with cauby, a white boy.

legend says they could not resist their love for each other, and in the end they were both killed by her tribe.