at a glance

the neighborhood of cosme velho is located on the foot of the hill of corcovado in the southern zone of rio de janeiro - it is part of the botafogo administrative region and is bordered by santa teresa and laranjeiras in the carioca river valley.

cosme velho is a neighborhood with high historical and cultural significance, many artists, composers, writers, and entrepreneurs live and have lived here over the years.

named after the portuguese merchant, cosme velho pereira, who settled in the carioca valley in the early sixteenth century - at that time and in the centuries following, the carioca river flowing through the area of cosme velho, was an important source of drinking water for the region of rio.

structural changes were made for a pipeline to direct water from what was then called the 'water rail' area to 'arcos de lapa', a water reserve - today, that reserve is a famous local landmark, known as the carioca aqueduct, or the 'arches da lapa', and as a result of the developments, the river was almost completely covered, however some parts are still visible in the largo do boticário.