São Conrado is an affluent neighborhood in the South Zone (Zona Sul) of the Brazil

Brazil

Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...

ian city 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...

. It is nestled in between the wealthy neighborhoods of Barra da Tijuca

Barra da Tijuca

Barra da Tijuca is a famous neighborhood in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, located southwest of the city on the Atlantic Ocean. Barra, as it is popularly known, will have most of the venues of the 2016 Summer Olympics, which will be the first edition held in South America. Barra is well-known for its...

 to the southwest and Leblon

Leblon

Leblon is an affluent neighbourhood and a beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It's a neighbourhood of upper class people in the southern zone of the city...

 to the northeast. São Conrado is famous for its hang gliding

Hang gliding

Hang gliding is an air sport in which a pilot flies a light and unmotorized foot-launchable aircraft called a hang glider ....

 (popular with locals and tourists alike), Fashion Mall which houses over 150 stores carrying national and international designers, and golf course. The neighborhood, or bairro

Bairro

Bairro is a Portuguese word and refers to a community or region within a city or municipality. Bairros exist in the majority of large cities in the world. Related words in English include neighborhood, district, borough or subdivision...

, is made up of sophisticated residential buildings, night clubs, and elegant restaurants. Contrasting with the wealth, however, is the sight of the Favela da Rocinha

Rocinha

Rocinha is the largest favela in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and is located in Rio's South Zone between the districts of São Conrado and Gávea. Rocinha is built on a steep hillside overlooking Rio de Janeiro, and is located about one kilometre from a nearby beach...

, Brazil's largest shantytown, which clings to the unmistakable Morro Dois Irmãos. It is also very well known for the mansions on the foot of the Pedra da Gávea mountain, which is filled with forests and wild animals.

Despite being situated near this favela, São Conrado enjoys a high level of safety and continues to be a desirable location for the well-heeled of Rio.

Brazilian police rescue 35 hostages from InterContinental

InterContinental

InterContinental is a brand of upscale luxury hotels, founded by Pan American World Airways, under Juan Trippe, and now owned by InterContinental Hotels Group. The chain operates over 200 hotels and resorts in approximately 75 nations.-History:...

hotel August 2010 in São Conrado. (Al Jazeera)(BBC)