at a glance
Curicica is located in the West Zone (Zona Oeste) of Rio. The bairro (neighborhood) is bordered by jacarepaguá to the south, Cidade de Deus, or ' city of god', to the east, and taquara to the north. The name of the district derives from the Tupi language, spoken by the indigenous peoples who resided in the area prior to Portuguese colonization. The word 'ya-cury-ycica', signified 'baba tree', a species of palm. The Portuguese adapted and contracted the term to denominate the district.
Curicica was located close to the old Estrada de Jacarepaguá, or 'Jacarepaguá Street', which lead from the area's marshland all the way to Morro dois Irmăos, or 'Two Brothers Hill'. The region was delimited by the Estrada de Guaratiba, or 'Guaratiba road', which is today called Estrada dos Bandeirantes, or 'Bandeirantes road'.
zona oeste
