Leme, Rio de Janeiro

Leme
Neighborhood
Leme

Location in Rio de Janeiro

Coordinates: 22°57′44″S 43°10′00″W / 22.96222°S 43.16667°WCoordinates: 22°57′44″S 43°10′00″W / 22.96222°S 43.16667°W
Country  Brazil
State Rio de Janeiro (RJ)
Municipality/City Rio de Janeiro
Zone South Zone
The famous United Buddy Bears exhibit was held on the Copacabana promenade, in Leme, just in time for the 2014 soccer World Cup.
Leme

Leme (Portuguese pronunciation: [ˈlɛ̃mi], rudder) is an upper-middle-class neighborhood in the South Zone of the City of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, next to Copacabana, Urca and Botafogo. The neighborhood takes its name from a nearby rock formation whose shape resembles the rudder of a ship.

In the years 50-60 high buildings were constructed as the hotel Le Méridien. Le Méridien closed in 2007 and was sold in 2009 to Windsor Hotels for around R$170 million. After a refurbishment, it was reopened in January 2011 as the Windsor Atlantica Hotel.

Every year in the days leading up to New Year's on December 31 the traditional processions honoring Yemaja begin here. The famous party of Réveillon or New Year's Eve in Copacabana extends completely into Leme as well.