at a glance

the actual occupation of the area only started in the last years of the 19th century when the main roads in the area were built, like the backbone of leme, the gustavo sampaio street.

the neighborhood would only be officially opened in 1900, and its development would yet take some years to solidify.

the neighborhood takes its name from the small section of land jutting out into the atlantic ocean, which when viewed from above resembles a boat's rudder - 'leme' in portuguese means 'rudder'.

rio's middle to upper class tend to occupy this neighborhood, which is known for some incredible views, especially from morro do leme, a huge natural granite form that dominates the protruding segment of land from which the areas takes its name.