King John VI’s royal bath is what first springs to mind when you think of Caju. This wasn’t just any bath. It was a royal affair. The king himself sought solace in the Caju’s waters. He used the beach for medicinal baths. His doctors advised sea bathing to reduce swelling in his leg. This royal patronage boosted Caju’s popularity. Its natural beauty surely played a part too. The king’s bath house still stands. Today it houses the Museu da Comlurb.
Caju a working-class district in Rio’s North Zone has a rich history. Before becoming its own neighborhood Caju belonged to São Cristóvão. The construction of Avenida Brasil in the 1940s marked its emergence as a distinct area. This avenue however also divided the neighborhood creating what some call an invisible wall. It separated Caju from the rest of the city.
Originally Caju boasted pristine beaches and crystal-clear waters. The area’s picturesque landscape is depicted in early 19th-century documents and watercolors. These idyllic scenes however are far from the reality of present-day Caju. Extensive land reclamation projects transformed Caju’s geography. These changes involved filling in wetlands and waterways. The beaches and islands vanished. These were part of Pereira Passos’s urban renewal program. This program drastically altered Caju’s landscape. It demolished slums and displaced residents. It opened new streets and changed existing buildings.
The transformation of Caju wasn’t without its negative consequences. The once-vibrant coastal area became a forgotten neighborhood. It suffered from neglect and segregation. Caju’s transformation wasn’t entirely negative. Its beaches provided the birthplace of beach volleyball around 1910. Young rowers from the Caju Athletic Club and Brazilian army members played the game.
Despite the changes Caju retains a unique identity. It still bears the scars of its past. It is known for its mix of low-income housing eight favelas industrial areas and military installations. Caju also has several large cemeteries. These areas however are now part of the city’s past. Caju a working-class neighborhood near the port area. It reflects both Rio’s vibrant history and its ongoing evolution. Its unique blend of past and present makes Caju a fascinating place to explore. We will now be visiting the Museu da Comlurb.