Forty-three point three degrees Celsius. That’s the highest temperature ever recorded in Rio de Janeiro. It happened here in Bangu in January 1984. Can you imagine?
Bangu a neighborhood in Rio’s West Zone is more than just a place with record-breaking heat. It’s a place steeped in history and rich with stories. It’s a middle-class neighborhood one of the most populated districts in the city. It’s nestled near Campo Grande Senador Camarã Vila Aliança Padre Miguel and Realengo.
Our story begins long before the record-breaking heat. In 1673 Manuel de Barcelos Domingues established Fazenda Bangu his farm. He also built a private chapel the Paróquia de Nossa Senhora do Desterro de Campo Grande. This marked the beginning of economic activity in the area specifically with the Engenho da Serra a sugar cane mill. The neighborhood developed around this mill and its economic success.
Later in 1889 the Companhia Progresso Industrial do Brasil bought Fazenda Bangu. They replaced sugar cane farming with cotton. A single street the Estrada Real de Santa Cruz remained a pathway used by Jesuits. But everything changed with the arrival of the railway station in 1890. Bangu’s growth accelerated. It became a major exporter of fabric to Europe. The Bangu Fabrics Factory a monumental textile player became a household name.
The inauguration of the Fbrica de Tecidos Bangu in 1893 was a significant moment. Brazil’s vice-president Floriano Peixoto and the Federal District’s mayor attended. The factory’s impact is still felt today. In 2007 the Bangu Shopping mall opened in the same building.
After 1900 Bangu’s infrastructure expanded. Streets were built. The first school Marco Seis opened. In 2004 a portion of Bangu was separated to form the new neighborhood Gericinó.
Bangu isn’t just about industry. It has a vibrant sporting and cultural scene. Bangu Atlético Clube a football club founded on April 17 1904 is a source of immense local pride. They were state champions twice in 1933 and 1966. They even reached the Brazilian Vice-Championship in 1985. The club was also a pioneer. It was one of the first to include black and mulatto players.
The Unidos de Bangu samba school is another symbol of Bangu’s spirit. It’s one of Brazil’s oldest samba schools. It was bi-champion of the Carioca Carnaval in 1957 and 1962. Even today the samba school is a beacon of Bangu’s energy.
The Bangu Penitentiary Complex a maximum security prison is unfortunately a less celebrated aspect of the area. Famous criminals like Fernandinho Beira-Mar were once imprisoned here.
So here we stand in Bangu a neighborhood that’s faced extreme heat and incredible change. From sugar cane to textiles from humble beginnings to a place of significant cultural and sporting achievements. Bangu stands as a testament to Rio de Janeiro’s complex and fascinating history.