Ricardo de Albuquerque

Nestled in Rio de Janeiro’s North Zone is Ricardo de Albuquerque. It’s a neighborhood with a story to tell. Ricardo de Albuquerque isn’t on the beach. It’s near Irajá and São João de Meriti. The 2010 census recorded about 29,310 residents calling this place home. Ricardo de Albuquerque is considered a middle and lower-middle-class neighborhood. In the year 2000, its Human Development Index (HDI) was 0.807. This ranked it 84th in Rio de Janeiro. The neighborhood’s history begins with the Engenho N. Sra. de Nazaré. This land was owned by the heirs of Captain Bento de Oliveira Braga. Part of this land, east of the Dom Pedro II Railroad (later Central do Brasil), went to farmer Luiz Costa. He became a key figure in developing the area. In 1935, “Lar Brasileiro” established the “Vila N. Sra. de Pompéia” development here during Mayor Pedro Ernesto’s administration. Several streets were opened and later recognized on land belonging to Cia Suburbana de Terrenos e Construções S.A. The first vicar of the Igreja Nossa Senhora de Pompéia, built in the region, was Father Aldolino Gesser. Ricardo de Albuquerque also has a train station. It was inaugurated on July 1, 1913. It was named in honor of the poet and railway director Colonel José Ricardo de Albuquerque. The station is 24.45 km from Central do Brasil Station. It’s the 44th station on the line. In the 1950s, a military branch line ran from this station to the Gericinó military base. It followed the Engenho Novo road and split a hill, creating a cut known as “Rasgão.” This cut has since disappeared. The cemetery of Ricardo de Albuquerque sits on Marechal Alencastro Avenue, bordering the vast military area of Gericinó. East of the railway, in the early 20th century, the land belonged to Dona Joana Fontoura. She sold plots near Camboatá Road. Colonel Carneiro da Fontoura bought a plot from her for his farm, near Dona Joana Road (now Fernando Lobo Street) and Alcobaça Road. These once green fields and hills are now occupied by working-class housing and low-income communities. Ricardo de Albuquerque borders Realengo to the west, Anchieta and Parque Anchieta to the north, Guadalupe to the east, and Deodoro and Vila Militar to the south. The area once housed farms, the largest known as “Sapopemba.” The train already ran at that time, stopping in this area. Because of this farm, the station—and by extension, the neighborhood—was called Parada Sapopemba. The pagode group Pique Novo originated in Ricardo de Albuquerque, starting their career here in late 1989. The neighborhood also boasts two samba schools: Arame de Ricardo and Império Ricardense.