Vila Mimosa

It is located on Rua Sotero dos Reis, in the Praça da Bandeira area, in the Zona Norte (North Zone) of the city.

[1][2][3] Prostitution in the central area of Rio de Janeiro dates back to the Empire of Brazil (1822–1889), when Polish and French women were imported to work in the Estácio neighbourhood, mainly to serve the upper classes.

As the economy of the city declined with the end of slavery, prostitution underwent a transformation and the area began to cater mainly to working men.

The area was not solely reserved for prostitution and in the 1930s and 1940s it also became a meeting place for artists, writers and musicians, such as Lasar Segall, Cartola, Luiz Gonzaga, and Manuel Bandeira.

Houses close to the warehouse began to be sold by their owners and were developed with verandas that extended to the sidewalks, until Rua Sotero dos Reis became entirely dedicated to the sex trade.