Throughout the twentieth century, this district played a role of astounding significance in rio's economic, social and cultural development, and came in many ways to embody the carioca spirit.  

However, as Castro highlights, ipanema only began to revel in the spotlight in the 1950s and 60s - in those decades it was home to a wide array of celebrity inhabitants, but was also a wonderfully exuberant melting pot of fisherman, bohemians and artists of all generations.

As Castro writes, the small strip of rio de janeiro coast, 'has produced the highest amount of chroniclers, poets, novelists, designers, architects, cartoonists, artists, composers, singers, journalists, photographers, filmmakers, playwrights, writers, set designers, costume designers, actors, TV directors, models, fashion designers and athletes in the whole of brazil.'