Imagine escaping the crowded streets. Imagine breathing in the fresh air. Here at Alto da Boa Vista in Rio de Janeiro we will do just that.
Alto da Boa Vista is a neighborhood in Rio’s North Zone. It offers a unique blend of history and natural beauty. We will delve into the story of this special place.
During Portuguese colonization the upper classes sought refuge here. The highlands offered a mild climate. They provided an escape from the unhealthy city center. From this vantage point they viewed the city from afar.
Coffee farms dramatically transformed the landscape. In the early 19th century they sprang up everywhere. Some farms had as many as 100000 coffee trees. The soil was soon depleted. Coffee production then shifted to other regions.
The resulting water scarcity caught the rulers’ attention. Regulations were enacted between 1844 and 1890. They aimed to preserve and replant the forest. Streams were rerouted to ensure the urban water supply. It is estimated that over 200000 seedlings were planted. Major Manuel Gomes Archer and Tomáz Nogueira da Gama led this effort.
Improvements to trails and access continued. The forest became a sanctuary. It was a place for nature lovers and environmental education. Despite being in a chaotic city the Tijuca Forest is healthy. It sharply contrasts with the past when surrounding forests were decimated.
The square in Alto da Boa Vista was inaugurated in 1903. Mayor Pereira Passos oversaw this. The paving of the Alto da Boa Vista road helped consolidate the neighborhood. The road is now called Edison Passos Avenue. A bandstand once stood here. It was replaced by a fountain designed by Grandjean de Montigny in 1846. In the 1940s the fountain was moved to this square.
The Count of Itamaraty commissioned a neoclassical palace here. Francisco José da Rocha Leão was the Count. José Maria Jacinto Rebelo completed it in 1854. Rebelo also worked on the Imperial Palace of Petrópolis. This palace is a miniature version of urban compositions.
The devotion to Our Lady of Light shows Portuguese influence. This devotion started in Portugal in the 15th century. Pedro Martins was freed by Our Lady after being imprisoned. He then promoted devotion to her.
In the 19th century French noblemen lived here. They were dedicated to coffee cultivation. In the 1960s and 1970s mansions were built. An upper middle class settled in the area. Today many mansions are for sale. Some are rented for events and movie sets.
The Forest Relief and Environment Group was founded in 1990. It combats forest fires. A large fire in the Tijuca Forest occurred ten years later. The new officers coordinated with other agencies. They saved hectares of the Atlantic Forest.
The Marcelina Congregation was founded in Milan Italy in 1838. Monsignor Luis Biraghi founded it. He believed in educating women.
D. João VI helped to protect the Carioca river basins in 1817. This ensured drinking water for the growing population. The city’s water supply crisis triggered afforestation efforts.
Several properties in Alto da Boa Vista have been used for TV and cinema. The Museu do Açude appeared in the soap opera Roque Santeiro. Maison Paineiras was used in soap operas like Vidas Opostas.
Painter Nicolas-Antoine Taunay established residence here. He built his house by the Taunay Cascatinha waterfall. This site served as a refuge. Artist-travelers depicted the Forest’s beauty.
Noble bonds were sold to the wealthy. Titles were individual and not transferable. The Count of Itamaraty’s family formed a clan of nobles.
Art collector Raimundo Ottoni de Castro Maya acquired a house in 1913. In the 1960s it became a museum. Castro Maya gave the house a neo-colonial look. The garden had landscaping by Burle Marx. The Museu do Açude exhibits tiles oriental art and applied arts.
Alto da Boa Vista with its history and nature offers a unique window. It offers a look into Rio’s past. Take a moment to appreciate the blend of nature and history.