at a glance

Sepetiba is a bairro (neighborhood) in the zona oeste (west zone) of Rio de Janeiro and it is one of the oldest among its peers. It was the second area to be occupied in the region following the Portuguese colonization of after Santa Cruz in 1567.

 it borders Santa Maria to the north and east, and guaratiba to the south. To the west it is limited by the waters of Sepetiba Bay. Sepetiba is also connected to the Santa Maria airbase in the north, and has a small dock which supplies the base.

The Tamoios indigenous people were the first settlers in the area, and although their history is long and rich, little evidence of it remains today. They fought alongside French troops against the Portuguese until their defeat and expulsion in 1567. The Tamoios then divided themselves and settled on vast plains along the coast.

They built a village for the purposes of fishing, hunting and farming, and in this village they noticed the vast supply of Sape - hence, the name Sepetuva, which was later adapted by the Portuguese to form 'Sepetiba'.