Iconic City Hotels of the World

Copacabana Palace A Belmond Hotel A symbol of the irrepressible spirit of Rio de Janeiro Iconic City Hotels of the World A n art deco masterpiece, Copacabana Palace is the crown jewel on the world's most iconic beach. Since its doors swung open in 1923, this landmark hotel has entertained the rich and the famous. A hive of activity, this is the spot to mix with Brazil's elite over caipirinhas. If the walls could talk, they would speak of famous guests, fabulous parties and a luxury lifestyle exclusive to the wealthy elite. The luxury hotel was designed by French architect and designer, Joseph Gire and its façade is a classic example of art deco architecture. The interior is lavishly decorated with gleaming marble floors, imposing pillars and extravagant chandeliers. The hotel has an eight-storey main building with 148 rooms and suites, and a 14- storey annexe with a further 78 rooms. The front of the hotel overlooks the long stretch of Copacabana beach, providing sea views for the front rooms. Now a leading light in the Belmond Hotels worldwide collection Copacabana Palace also comes complete with a semi-Olympic swimming pool, another swimming pool for VIP guests housed up in the penthouse, a full-sized tennis court, a fitness centre with a fully equipped gym and a three-storey spa. There are also three bars located in three different on-site restaurants, one that serves Italian cuisine, another serving pan-Asiatic, Restaurante Mee, which also has a Michelin-star, and the third that serves international dishes. Through its much storied history, the beach palace has ebbed and flowed with the fortunes of a city that tapped to the feet of Fred Astaire, suffered a loss of importance when the capital of Brazil was moved to inland Brasilia and a resurgence when the city re- affirmed itself as the capital of dance, festival and samba. For its part Copacabana Palace may well have set a precedent as it hosted the Rolling Stones, who then performed a free live performance on Copacabana Beach in February 2006. It was later declared one of the biggest rock concerts in the world, with over 1.5 million people attending. Rock history is truly iconic pedigree!