Ever heard of a neighborhood that was once home to dense forests and mango trees? That’s Vaz Lobo. Today, we’re standing in Vaz Lobo, a neighborhood with a history stretching back to the early 19th century.
Vaz Lobo’s story began as part of the old Campinho land grant. It belonged to Captain Francisco Inácio do Canto. Later, the land was sold. By the mid-1800s, Vaz Lobo was mostly small farms. One belonged to the Machado family and José Maria Vaz Lobo, a retired military man.
In the early 20th century, Vaz Lobo still had a rural feel. The land was swampy. Dense forests and fruit trees dominated the landscape. Mango trees were especially plentiful. Around 1910, streetcars started running through the area. In the early 1920s, streets were built. The first brick houses went up. Paving the streets didn’t happen until the 1970s. That’s when asphalt finally arrived in Vaz Lobo.
Vaz Lobo has a rich cultural history. The Igreja de Cristo Rei stands as a major Catholic church. One of the first Candomblé houses in the North Zone is here. Called Inzo, it was founded in 1966. Tata Biole de Nkosi led this house of the Angola nation.
Several well-known schools are located in Vaz Lobo. These include Colégio Republicano. It was founded in the 1930s. Other schools are Colégio Augusto Marques, Colégio Bahiense and Colégio Pirralho. Escola Municipal Rosa Bettiato Zattera and Escola Municipal Irmã Zélia are also important. In 2010, FAETEC opened a new unit in Vaz Lobo.
The Edifício Comercial Mahatma Gandhi is a major commercial center. It was built in the early 1980s on Avenida Ministro Edgard Romero. You could find dental offices, medical clinics and training courses there. Beauty salons were also common.
Once, Vaz Lobo was the end of the line for many streetcar routes. The old Cine Vaz Lobo, built in 1941, was a symbol of the neighborhood. It held 1,800 people. The theater’s roof was the largest free span in the suburbs at the time. In 1941, first lady Darci Vargas attended the opening. The cinema became a cultural hub. Sadly, the Cine Vaz Lobo closed in 1986. The owner, Antònio Monteiro, refused to sell it for use as a church.
In 2009, Antònio Monteiro passed away. This left the building’s future uncertain. Early plans for the TransCarioca expressway included demolishing the cinema. Local residents and researchers joined with the Municipal Secretary of Culture. Together, they changed the expressway plans. They are working to restore the Cine Vaz Lobo into a movie theater and cultural center.
The Instituto Histórico e Geográfico Baixada de Irajá leads the Movimento Cine Vaz Lobo. Their goal is to preserve and restore the building. They envision it as a center for performing arts and film.
Avenida Ministro Edgard Romero, Avenida Monsenhor Félix and Avenida Vicente de Carvalho are Vaz Lobo’s three main roads. The Cine Vaz Lobo is located where these three avenues meet.
The TransCarioca expressway brought changes to Vaz Lobo. Many buildings were demolished. However, it spurred economic growth. New businesses and real estate investments came to Vaz Lobo. This improved infrastructure and the quality of life.
Actress Glória Pires filmed a commercial in Vaz Lobo. She was born and raised in the neighborhood. Fátima Bernardes, former news anchor on Jornal Nacional, also lived here. She was born on Rua Tarira in 1962.
Today, Vaz Lobo stands as a testament to its rich history and vibrant community. From its rural beginnings to its cultural landmarks, Vaz Lobo offers a unique glimpse into the heart of Rio de Janeiro.