at a glance

the calçadão da praia is the beautiful black and white stone boardwalk, which lines the beach. the striking design has achieved iconic - the famous stones were brought from portugal, in 1906, when it was built.

while the design is original of praça do rossio in lisbon, cariocas put their own spin on it interpreting the black and white pattern as a stylization of the ocean meeting the shore.

the boardwalk underwent a substantial redevelopment in the 1970s, but still holds much of its original charm, making it one of the most animated spots in the city, especially during the weekends - the calçadão is lined with kiosks serving refreshments and snack foods throughout the day and hosting live music gigs and events during the evenings.