pacified by the first ever battalion of the polícia pacificadora (upp) in 2008, this community is a prime example of successful restoration of order, and of integration of a 'dirt-road' community into an 'asphalted' neighborhood.

located in botafogo and home to 60,000 people, santa marta has been the set for several videos by international artists such as madonna, alicia keys, and beyoncé.

directed by spike lee in 1995, michael jackson was the first major artist who used music to bring unprecedented national and international attention to the favelas of rio when he released the video 'they don't care about us.'