An area of Ipanema beach frequented in the 1970s by Brazilian singer Gal Costa was recognized on Friday as Intangible Heritage of Rio de Janeiro, in tribute to the muse of tropicalism who died last week.
“
Rio has always welcomed artists from all over the world with open arms.
Recognizing an area of the beach as Intangible Heritage is our way of paying tribute to Gal Costa, who left us too soon
,” Rio Mayor Eduardo Paes said in a statement.
"
This singer's legacy to our popular culture will now be immortalized on Ipanema Beach
," he continued.
The municipal decree published Friday in the Official Gazette recognizes as "Cultural Heritage of Intangible Nature" this area designated as "
Dunas da Gal
" (The Dunes of Gal).
The area in question is at Teixeira de Melo Street, at the end of Ipanema Beach.
According to the daily
O Globo,
a statue of Gal Costa could be erected there soon.
Read alsoBrazilian Gal Costa, eternal muse of tropicalism, died at 77
In the 1970s, in the midst of the military dictatorship, the sand of this mythical beach in Rio was a meeting place for many artists and intellectuals.
Gal Costa was a regular at the place, as evidenced by black and white photos of the singer in a bikini, a headband in her hair.
Born in Salvador de Bahia (northeast), this artist adored beyond the borders of Brazil died at the age of 77 on November 9 in Sao Paulo, where she had lived for the past few years.
Her crystalline voice marked generations of Brazilians, with hits like
Baby
or
Chuva de Prata
.
Along with other legendary singers like Caetano Veloso or Gilberto Gil, she was one of the icons of tropicalism, a cultural movement that revolutionized Brazilian music, mixing traditional rhythms and influences from rock and British or American pop.