at a glance

praia da bandeira is a neighborhood located on the ilha do governador (governor's island) in the north zone (zona norte), one of rio de janeiro three zones. the bairro (neighborhood) borders the communities of cocotá, jardim carioca, cacuia and pitangueiras.

the area was once known as praia da tapera (tapera beach). it was where an abandoned shack stood that was used by travelers, indigents and fugitives. the word tapera is of tupi origin. the tupi were the indigenous people of this area.

in tapera there was a landowner named captain barbosa, who began the development of the neighborhood - a local road now bears his name. his wife, a school prinicpal, was also active in the community. the school where she was a principal in the 1920s was relocated to nearby praia do zumbi (zumbi beach). it is now called the escola municipal cuba (cuba municipal school).