We could say that this Rio suburb ccame to life when Estácio de Sá donated to the Jesuits the Sesmaria de Iguaçú – an enormous land extension which included the present day neighborhoods of Grande Méier, Grande Tijuca and São Cristóvão. The area from Benfica to Engenho de Dentro became gradually fulfilled since the Freguesia de Nossa Senhora da Conceição of Engenho Novo, by the middle 18th century. Country houses, chapels and warehouses formed small centers, on that predominantly rural occasion. Since the D. Pedro II railroad opening (1858) amd the intermediary stations until Cascadura, the suburbs grew in parallel to the railroad, gaining land lots and more urban surroundings.
The Assistant Line (E.F Rio Douro) increased this expansion in a different and more irregular way, allowing the erection of the now existing neighborhoods of Cachambi, Maria da Graça and Del Castilho, thoe last ones presently integrated to it’s neighbor Região Leopoldina. In 1879, the Cachambi Ferro-Carril Company, with mule pulled streetcars, started to do the connection between those neighborhoods and access to the surroundings industries, all the Grande Méier region notably grew in demographic terms, causing the mixing, and even it’s “fading”. But where did Cachambi go? That’s what we’ll be discovering in this Rolé Carioca, outstanding the little treasures that the suburbs keep on it’s view.
Image: Méier, 1957, Acervo IBGE
Considered the first big commercial enterprise in North Zone and began a period of revitalization for the old sites around, when the use of the soil was changed from industrial to services and culture. It was built in an old Klabin factory without preserving the original floor plan as previously done with Bangu Shopping and Shopping Nova América.
Image: Hamilton Lima, CC Creative Commons
Managed as a chapel of Nossa Senhora da Conceição Aparecida parish on the same neighborhood, it was given the status of an independent community in 1983. The parish is erecting a pastoral center to shelter ecclesiastics and cathechesis activities for infants and adults, a youth group, flea market, scouts and a prayers apostolate.
Image: Facebook Paróquia
The small square pays homage to a distinguished resident, singer Orlando Silva (1915 – 1978). Born in Engenho de Dentro, the so called “singer of the masses” left over 1400 recorded songs and spent most of his life in Cachambi. As the years passed, he received lots of mentions. Among them, this place where is placed a copper bust of the singer.
Image: Google Street View
Since it’s foundation, in 1920, by the Missionary Servant Sisters of the Holy Spirit, the school has the duty to give children education from the Christian perspective. They try to join tradition, modernity and innovation to the citizen’s formation of a conscious citizen, capable of constructing it’s own knowledge and live with the differences, answering critically and creatively to the world’s demands.
Image: Site Colégio Coração de Maria
Maybe the only construction in Brazil built with an Moorish style. The church’s construction began in 1909 and extended to 1917, being the tower finished in 1924. Beyond the rich decoration with detailed geometric decoration in mosaic and tiles, the church owns rosewood carved doors. Elevated to the basilica status in 1964, there is a 64m high by 24m large central aisle.
Image: Wikimedia Commons
Founded in 1919, it is a project of the architects Pedro Viana Cordeiro and Arquimedes José da Silva and it was built in a 13.000 m² area, where it used to be the country house of Dr. Aquinas Cordeiro. For many decades it was the main family amusement in the neighborhood. After some time left alone the square went through some reformations and back to the locals pleasure. It’s octagonal bandstand have already been a stand to politicians and still receives religious meetings and music concerts.
Image: Divulgação/Inepac
It began it’s service in October 12, 1920, under the name of Serviço Auxiliar do Pronto Socorro do Méier. In November 28, 1951 it had it’s name changed to Méier Dispensary. Only in March 27, 1963 the actual name was given.
Image: Divulgação/Secretaria de Saúde
Given to it’s contiguity with Méier, it is common to hear that Cachambi doesn’t exist. It’s geography is commonly mistaken with Todos os Santos. The truth is that those suburbs “bump” into each other in some directions, as an example, at Honório and Getúlio streets. This imprecision marks a well known historical fact: the arrest of Luís Carlos Prestes and Olga Benário in 1936. Although the case was registered as occurred in Cachambi, at Honório street, 279, it is reported that their hiding place was at number 270, in Todos os Santos.
Have you ever noticed the Norte Shopping windows and skylights? They’re a project of the artist Brian Clarke, who recovered all the roof structure with colorful glass. For those who are not familiar, the English is the most praised contemporary stained glass window creator – since this art modality was considered exclusive for sacred places. Brian had decorated the Victoria Quarter commercial center in Leeds, United Kingdom, and the Pyramid of “Peace and Reconciliation”, in Qazaqstan.
The author of the Basílica Imaculado Coração de Maria project would gave been inspired by the Spanish mudéjar from the Santa Maria La Blanca Church at the city of Toledo. Also known as Moorish, this style had came to attention on the 12th century in Spain, during the Reconquest Wars. During this period, in which the then ruined catholic churches were restored (most of them in a romantic style), gothic and Arabic elements were added to the mix. So, in counterpart to the common sense, the mundéjar doesn’t derives from an Islamic influence, but an Arabic one, in a big fusion between romantic and gothic.
During the Vargas government persecution to Luís Csrlos Prestes and Olga Benário, the couple hide at Honório street, right at the Todos os Santos and Cachambi division. The pursuit came to an end with her going to a German concentration camp and he was sent for a long time in prison. Olga was well trained soviet agent that was assigned to work to benefit communism in Brazil, then made chief of Prestes’ personal security. But as the story goes, among orders and the recruitment of new comrads, they couldn’t help to fall in love!
Open to the public in 1954 as Cine Imperator, then the largest cinema on Latin America, soon became a city reference. In 1991 it started to be used as a concert house where big stars such as Bob Dylan, Tina Turner, Tom Jobim, Caetano Veloso, Gal Costa and Tim Maia. There was a time between 1996 and 2012 when it came back to activities as Centro Cultural João Nogueira, a show house with a theater, movies, art gallery and bistrot.
Dias da Cruz St., 170
Phone: (21) 2597-3897
www.imperator.art.br
Recently created inside the Faith Cathedral of the Reign of God Universal Church, a cultural space where resides the largest model of Ancient Jerusalem outside Israel. In this place, at Rio de Janeiro, it is possible to have an ancient history class about Christianity in Brazil.
Dom Hélder Câmara Av., 3970
Phone: (21) 2582-0140
Opening hours: Monday to Sunday, from 9 AM to 6PM
http://centroculturaljerusalem.com.br/
“The truth is: I drank too much and bought the bar…” That’s how Marcelo Novaes, owner of the Cachambeer, tells about the “idle bar” he kept close to his house just to drink with his friends. However it is now a bigger place, famous for it’s ribs and other ethylic-gastronomic fun.
Cachambi St., 475
Phone: (21) 3597-2002
https://www.facebook.com/cachambeer/
Imagem: Facebook Cachambeer