between 1920 and and late 1950's rio became extremely popular with high-end visitors and international celebrities - it was during this period, in 1923, that the famous copacabana palace hotel was inaugurated.

throughout the 20th century, rio lived under short periods of often violent military dictatorships, the last of which lasted from 1964 to 1985 when civilian rule was peacefully restored.  

many of rio de janeiro's famous artists and singers participated in cultural movements against the dictatorship, most notably through tropicalismo - an ideology that in the 60's made posto 9 famous as one of the most important meeting points for its followers.        

today rio de janeiro is brazil's most famous city, and it is considered brazil's culture capital and a vital economic center for both brazil and south america.