Maracanã is a middle-class neighborhood located in the Northern Zone of Rio de Janeiro

Rio de Janeiro

Rio de Janeiro , commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America, boasting approximately 6.3 million people within the city proper, making it the 6th...

 city. The Maracanã Stadium

Estádio do Maracanã

The Estádio do Maracanã , officially Estádio Jornalista Mário Filho, is an open-air stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Owned by the Rio de Janeiro State Government, it is named after the Maracanã neighbourhood in Rio de Janeiro. It was opened in 1950 to host the FIFA World Cup, and in the final...

 is located in this neighborhood, as well as the Ginásio do Maracanãzinho

Ginásio do Maracanãzinho

Ginásio do Maracanãzinho, sometimes called just Maracanãzinho , is a modern indoor arena located in Maracanã neighborhood, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Its formal name, Ginásio Gilberto Cardoso, honors a former Clube de Regatas do Flamengo president...

. Maracanã is bordered by these neighborhoods: Praça da Bandeira, Tijuca

Tijuca

Tijuca is a neighbourhood of the Northern Zone of the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It comprises the region of Saens Peña and Afonso Pena squares. According to the 2000 Census, the district has close to 150,000 inhabitants...

 and Vila Isabel

Vila Isabel

Vila Isabel is a neighbourhood in the North Zone of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil....

.

The population of the neighborhood is estimated in 27,319, according to the 2000 census.
The neighborhood has a long sporting tradition. Besides Maracanã stadium, also there is a derby club, built in 1885, by André Gustavo Paulo de Frontin. Also, there is a bike way, named Espaço Mané Garrincha, named after the footballer Garrincha

Garrincha

Manuel Francisco dos Santos , known by the nickname "Garrincha" , was an association football right winger and forward who helped the Brazil national team win the World Cups of 1958 and 1962. He played the majority of his professional career for Brazilian club Botafogo.The word garrincha itself...

. It has 1,700 meters, and surrounds the Maracanã stadium.

The UERJ

Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro

The Rio de Janeiro State University is one of the largest universities in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Its Faculty of Law is one of the best in Brazil.The main campus is Francisco Negrão de Lima at the Maracanã section of Rio de Janeiro city...

, which is one of the main universities in Rio de Janeiro, is also located in Maracanã. Other education institutions are the CEFET

Centro Federal de Educação Tecnológico Celso Suckow

The Centro Federal de Educação Tecnológica Celso Suckow da Fonseca, CEFET-RJ, is a Brazilian federal educational institution subordinated to the Brazilian Ministry of Education...

 and the Escola Politécnica, both technical colleges which prepare high school students for the labour market. Two schools, Pedro II and Colégio Militar, are located at São Francisco Xavier street.

The neighborhood is crossed by its main avenue, called Maracanã Avenue, which connects Maracanã to Tijuca. Other important avenue is Presidente Castelo Branco Avenue. São Francisco Xavier street is the main street and crosses Maracanã Avenue.

The neighborhood will be one of the four "Olympic Zones" during the 2016 Summer Olympics

2016 Summer Olympics

The 2016 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXXI Olympiad, are a major international multi-sport event to be celebrated in the tradition of the Olympic Games, as governed by the International Olympic Committee...

.