at a glance

santa cruz is both a commercial and residential neighborhood located in the zona oeste (west zone) of rio de janeiro, within the administrative region of santa cruz - only two other neighborhoods share the region with the district and these are paciência and sepetiba.

santa cruz was once inhabited by the native indigenous tribe, the tupi guarani, and was later settled by portuguese immigrants, beginning in the early fourteenth century - during the reign of portuguese king, dom pedro ii, santa cruz began to urbanize, following the construction of the railroad of brazil in 1882. the reign of dom pedro ii allowed santa cruz to industrialize and experience trade.