Morro do Urubu

Slipping between the vibrant neighborhoods of Pilares and Tomás Coelho, Morro do Urubu reveals itself. Morro do Urubu isn’t just a single peak. It’s a complex tapestry of communities woven together. These include Urubu, spanning Pilares and Tomás Coelho, and Urubuzinho, nestled between Pilares and Abolição. Vila Caramuru in Tomás Coelho, Baleares in Cavalcante, and Mineiros/Mineira, Caixa D’Água, and Itabirito in Piedade also contribute to this multifaceted area. Though distinct, they are so interconnected that they form a single entity known as Morro do Urubu. Like many favelas in Rio, Morro do Urubu has seen its share of conflict. Exchanges between rival factions, especially with the nearby Morro do Engenho in Inhaúma, have marked its history. The struggle for control, once between Amigos dos Amigos and Comando Vermelho, shifted in 2018 with the rise of TCP. Morro do Urubu is surrounded by a network of other communities. Morro do Juramento and Morro do Juramentinho in Tomás Coelho and Vicente de Carvalho, Morro da Primavera in Cavalcante, Favela Pereira Pinto in Tomás Coelho, Favela Amália in Cavalcante and Quintino Bocaiuva, and the Complexo da Serrinha stand nearby. This complex includes Morro da Serrinha, Morro São José da Pedra, Groto, Dendê, Iguaçu, and Sanatório, spread across Cavalcante, Cascadura, and Madureira. Together, these communities create a dense urban landscape, often separated by mere meters. Accessing Morro do Urubu often involves traversing the well-known Rua Aderbal de Carvalho, named after a 19th-century poet, critic, and writer. Other routes include streets like Paquequer, Silva Xavier, and Figueiredo Pimentel in Abolição. There are also streets like Itabirito and Luís Vargas in Piedade, and Baleares and Graça Melo in Cavalcante. Numerous other streets weave through Tomás Coelho and Pilares, providing further access points to this intricate community. In April 2010, after devastating landslides triggered by the heaviest rainfall in 44 years, many homes in Morro do Urubu were deemed unsafe. Tragically, these events resulted in the displacement of at least 331 families, roughly a third of the population. Many were relocated to a housing complex in Realengo. Certain areas, like Urubuzinho, were completely evacuated and slated for reforestation, marking a significant shift in the landscape of Morro do Urubu.