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Until 1994

    Naturists have been present at Abricó since the 1960s. Privileged by its geography, which makes it hidden and almost secret, Abricó was always a preferred naturist site for its easy access. In the beginning it was practically deserted, unknown to all but a few naturists. In the 1980s there was an increase in naturist attendance, when dozens of naturists could be seen on the sands of Abricó on the weekdays. There was a harmonious coexistence among the nude and the dressed, and even the police got along with the group. However this peace was shattered suddenly in the early 1990s. Repression and police harassment began against unclothed people on the beach, and it only got worse with time. A climate of revolt was created, and suggestions for containing the problem began to appear. Then the idea of making official the practice of nudism on the beach began to take shape, with the inspiration of the newly designated naturist beach Pinho in Santa Catarina.

    Representatives, city council members and the mayor’s office were contacted, and in 1992 a project prepared by RIO-NAT (former naturist association of Rio and by Pedro Ribeiro, a frequent presence at Abricó, was presented for analysis to the Secretaria Municipal de Meio Ambiente (Municipal Environment Secretariat). Two years passed. On 30 November 1994, environmental secretary Alfredo Sirkis signed the resolution that permited the practice of naturism, safeguarding the right of non-naturists to frequent the beach also. In other words, at Abricó the naked and the dressed were going to hang out together in a wonderful set-up! But a certain lawyer, ex-seminarian, ignoring the civil rights of minorities and flaunting his desire to appear in the media, appealed to the Penal Code – a confounding document that allows all kinds of barbarities – specifically article 233 which, depending on one’s interpretation, can consider being unclothed in a public place an insult to the collective sentiment and modesty. Alleging that the city of Rio has no right to incite public immorality, he filed a claim in the 7^th Circuit Court demanding the annulment of the naturist-designated space. A week after the trial began, a judge conceded a preliminary injunction prohibitting the practice of naturism at Abricó. Alfredo Sirkis, who had given carte blanche to the naturist project, was crushed: "those people are exposing Rio de Janeiro to ridicule, trying to transform it into an Islamic province".
RIO-NAT’s attempts to annul the injunction were thwarted. The beach remained prohibitted until March 2001, when, in an outstanding verdict, we were judged victorious in the first hearing.

 2001

    More than six years had gone by in the struggle for justice, and Naturism emerged victorious, retaking the sands of the beaches at Abricó and Recreio dos Bandeirantes.
"Last week, the civil action put forward by the lawyer So-and-so in December 1994 against the practice of naturism at this locality, was judged groundless by the 7^th Circuit Court,” proclaimed the newspaper O DIA on the occasion, and we won. Therefore, the Municipal Environment Secretariat’s decision—that had recognized Abricó, in between Prainha and Grumari, as an official nudist beach—was vindicated.
Our paradise ran along smoothly until June of the same year, when the unsatisfied lawyer appealed the decision and filed a new claim, obtaining, incredibly, a new injunction which once again took Abricó beach away from the naturists. Newly frustrated attempts to overcome this extravagant claim almost led us to lose hope in recovering the beach for naturism.

 2003

     As a result of the brillant defense by municipal attorney Luiz Roberto da Matta, the Tribunal of Justice of Rio de Janeiro judged the case in our favor, by 4 votes to 1, defeating the infamous exhibitionist lawyer once again on 30 September 2003
At this time Abricó beach is completely open for naturists, and we invite everyone to come visit us. We always give a warm welcome to those who show dignity and respect for their fellow naturists, for the environment and for themselves.

As naturists we emphasize that we want a democratic space, where all can visit—naturists or non-naturists—as long as they respect our ethical code of conduct.

Photos by Acervo Folha