How about we explore a neighborhood that’s both historic and cool? Sa\u00fade in Rio de Janeiro. It’s not just any neighborhood. It was ranked as the 25th coolest in the world by Time Out magazine.
Sa\u00fade sits north of Rio’s historical center near the port area. Its name means “Health” in Portuguese. This is due to the number of hospitals in the area. Hospital dos Servidores de Estado and Hospital Pro Matre are located here.
In 2000, Sa\u00fade had a population of around 2,186. More recently the population was 2,749. The area has many homes for the lower middle class. There are also warehouses and depots.
Let’s not forget the Church of Our Lady of Sa\u00fade. It was built in 1789 on the seafront. The church actually gave its name to the Sa\u00fade neighborhood. However it technically belongs to the Gamboa neighborhood today.
Sa\u00fade has been inhabited since the late 17th century. The neighborhood got its name in 1742. Portuguese merchant Manuel Negreiros built a chapel. He dedicated it to Nossa Senhora da Sa\u00fade. This was to fulfill a promise. His wife had been cured of an illness.
Sa\u00fade is also home to the Valongo Pier. It opened in 1811. This pier became the landing place for slaves in Rio. Before that, boats arrived in Pra\u00e7a XV. Over 40 years, about one million Africans arrived here. This made it the largest port for enslaved people globally. About 25% of enslaved Africans brought to Brazil arrived here.
In 1843, the pier was renovated. It was prepared to receive Princess Teresa Cristina. She was to marry Emperor Pedro II. The pier was then renamed Cais da Princesa.
In 2017, the Valongo Pier became a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is the only physical reminder of the arrival of enslaved Africans in the Americas.
Sa\u00fade has always been home to Bahians. After the revolt of the Mal\u00eas in 1835 there was significant migration. Living conditions worsened in Salvador. Many Bahians moved to Rio. They gathered in Sa\u00fade and helped create samba in the city.
Early sambistas like Donga and Jo\u00e3o da Baiana met in Pedra do Sal. It became a symbol of this musical culture. Pedra do Sal was declared a World Heritage Site in 1984.
The Porto Maravilha project revitalized Sa\u00fade before the 2016 Olympics. The Rio Art Museum and the Museum of Tomorrow were created. Eduardo Kobra created works here. His mural Etnias was recognized as the most prominent graffiti globally in 2016.
Etnias is 15 meters high and 170 meters long. It shows five indigenous faces from five continents.
Time Out magazine recommends visiting Pedra do Sal in Sa\u00fade. They also suggest visiting the Museum of Tomorrow and the Rio Art Museum. They recommend trying Casa Omolokum restaurant too. It serves typical Bahian cuisine.
So, as we leave Sa\u00fade remember its history. It is a neighborhood of health, samba, and resilience. It’s a place where the past and present meet.