Downtown Rio de Janeiro and its Historical Touristification Processes

Notes on the touristification in the city center of Rio de Janeiro - 19th and 20th centuries

Abstract

Supported by Milton Santos' theoretical framework, especially in the categories of “structure”, “process”, “function” and “form”, this article seeks to examine the touristification of douwntown Rio de Janeiro. It uses as documentary sources two travel guides, one from 1882 (Traveler's Guide in Rio de Janeiro, from Gazeta de Notícias) and the other from 1979 (Old Rio – downtown tourist-cultural itinerary, from Embratur), trying to establish comparisons in order to identify continuities and ruptures in the tourist landscape of the city center. It was noticed the influence of the two guides analyzed in the "touristification" of the city, considering the contextual differences of each period and the different intentions of publications.