Here is the story of Morro do Matoso. The story starts in 1922. Brazil was experiencing significant change. Rio de Janeiro was the capital. The city aimed to transform into a “Paris of the Tropics”. This vision fostered the demolition of hills. Morro do Castelo faced the same fate. It was strategic in the city’s future plans.
Now, imagine Morro do Matoso as a silent witness. It is a witness to Rio’s shifting identity. The early 20th century marked an era of effervescence. Urban landscapes evolved rapidly. This included Morro do Castelo. It was destroyed to make way for progress.
Think about the mindset. There was an attempt to erase the colonial image. Leaders wanted to modernize Brazil. They wanted it to reflect European ideals. This involved significant physical changes. Hills were demolished to modernize. Tenement houses and buildings were at odds. They did not fit with the new European image.
Morro do Castelo stood as a strategic element. It was important in the city’s plans. Demolishing it was seen as progress. It was a way to erase the past. It was part of achieving a new model of civilization. Other hills met similar fates. Morro do Senado became Praça da Cruz Vermelha.
Consider the city’s original name. São Sebastião do Rio de Janeiro’s topography included hills and swamps. These shaped the arrival of new inhabitants. Over time, these landscapes transformed. Hillsides became frontiers of discrimination. This created racial and economic hierarchies.
The city’s founding in 1565 occurred on Morro Cara de Cão. It was near Morro da Urca. The second installation occurred in 1567. It was at the top of Morro do Castelo. This was a strategic point for Portuguese rule.
Remember the photographer Augusto Malta. He documented Rio’s urbanization. This was a period of rapid modernization. His photographs reveal contradictions. Modernizing the city meant erasing its past.
Reflect on Mayor Carlos Sampaio’s words. He compared Morro do Castelo to a decaying tooth. The city lost historical assets. The São Sebastião Church disappeared. So did the Jesuit School. The Casa dos Pretos also vanished. The Clock Tower and Astronomical Observatory were lost.
The demolition was financed by a European bank. It cost more than expected. Sampaio took out new loans. He left the city with huge debts. He was accused of corruption. He was a shareholder in the demolition company.
Morro do Castelo held importance for centuries. It was eliminated in the name of development. Political and economic interests drove its destruction. Only a small section of the hill remained. This section became Ladeira da Misericórdia. It currently occupies a sidewalk. It is next to the Our Lady of Bonsucesso Church. The Santa Casa da Misericórdia Hospital is nearby.
Today, the area is still known as Castelo. Buses have Castelo as their destination. This is a reminder of the hill that no longer exists. It revives the erased landmark’s memory.
So, as you stand near where Morro do Matoso once stood, remember its story. It is a tale of transformation. It is a tale of modernization and the erasure of history. It is a reminder of Rio’s complex past.