Dismantling Morro do Castelo
Rare moving images of workers on the rubble of the Morro do Castelo (Castle Hill), the use of bulldozers, hydraulic hoses, and the transportation of debris
Dismantling of Morro do CasteloGeneral Archive of Rio de Janeiro City
Dismantling Morro do Castelo - Part I
This section brings together images of the demolition of Morro do Castelo, the Sacred Hill, as it was known, using hydraulic pumps.
São Zacharias Hospital
The Morro do Castelo was considered the birthplace of the city. Occupied in 1567, it was the place where most Portuguese institutions were based during the initial occupation of the territory. Its expansion gave rise to the city of São Sebastião do Rio de Janeiro.
Igreja de São Sebastião dos Capuchinhos (1847) by J. Jacinto and 1847General Archive of Rio de Janeiro City
Church of São Sebastião dos Capuchinhos
One of the landmarks on Morro do Castelo. Its construction by the Jesuits began in 1567.
On the left is the Church of São Sebastião dos Capuchinhos, indicating Mem de Sá's tomb. De Sá was the founder of the city of Rio de Janeiro. On the right is a reference to the transfer of his remains on St. Sebastian's Day.
Left: Entrance to the building hosting the National Meteorological Observatory (Observatório Nacional de Meteorologia), established on the Morro do Castelo in 1845. Right: Water tank supplying the hill
Moradores do Morro do Castelo (31.08.1920) by Augusto Malta and 31.08.1920General Archive of Rio de Janeiro City
The citizens of Morro do Castelo
Residents pose for a photograph in 1920, at the beginning of the dismantling process.
Left: Castelo Slope, which used to be on São José Street; right: Misericórdia Slope, considered the first public thoroughfare in the city. The stone monk, which was used to tie horses, is today found in the Rio de Janeiro Historical Museum (Museu Histórico da Cidade).
Desmonte do morro do Castelo com o uso de bombas hidráulicas. No topo, as ruínas da Igreja de São Sebastião dos Capuchinhos. (06.11.1922) by Augusto Malta and 06.11.1922General Archive of Rio de Janeiro City
The dismantling in progress
Hydraulic pumps in use to speed up the dismantling process. At the top are the ruins of the São Sebastião dos Capuchinhos Church.
Dismantling of Morro do CasteloGeneral Archive of Rio de Janeiro City
Dismantling Morro do Castelo - Part II
This section shows the use of bulldozers and "trolleys" for transporting rubble.
Desmonte do Morro do Castelovendo-se, à esquerda, o prédio do Hospital São Zacharias. (11.11.1922) by Augusto Malta and 11.11.1922General Archive of Rio de Janeiro City
Ruins from the colonial past
In order to make room for modernity, those things considered backwards were swept away. The ruins of the São Zacharias Hospital are pictured here. On the right is the Misericórdia Street.
Technologies used in the dismantling process
Washington Luís no Morro do Castelo (08.05.1928) by Augusto MaltaGeneral Archive of Rio de Janeiro City
Last visits to Morro do Castelo
Brazilian president Washington Luis (in front, with a beard and dark hat), on a visit to Morro do Castelo, poses with a group of children.
Desmonte do Morro do Castelo (27.05.1924) by Augusto MaltaGeneral Archive of Rio de Janeiro City
Transportation of site debris
Transported in trolleys, the debris from the Morro do Castelo is taken to the Santa Luzia Beach landfill area. From this point, the city would expand towards the sea.
Área aberta pelo desmonte de trecho do Morro do Castelo (09.07.1922) by Augusto Malta and 09.07.1922General Archive of Rio de Janeiro City
Morro do Castelo is empty
In 1921, five bulldozers, six engines, and fifty wagons were acquired. Right: México Street and the foundations of the National Library
Aerofotogrametria da Esplanada do Castelo (Agosto de 1928) by Agosto de 1928General Archive of Rio de Janeiro City
Aerial photogrammetry in 1928
Aerial view of the Castelo Esplanade still being finalized. From top to bottom is Rio Branco Avenue.
Esplanada do CasteloGeneral Archive of Rio de Janeiro City
Castelo Esplanade
The Esplanade was gradually being occupied. Right (diagonal): Rio Branco Avenue and Cinelândia, with the Pedro Ernesto Palace, the side of the Municipal Theater, and the bottom of the National Library and the National Fine Arts School (Escola Nacional de Belas Artes)
Mayor of Rio de Janeiro
Eduardo Paes
Secretary of State
Eduardo Cavaliere
General Archive of the City of Rio de Janeiro
Rosa Maria Araujo
Documentation Center
Maria Thereza Kahl Fonseca
Curatorship, editing and historical research
Conrado Werneck Pimentel
Text revision
Pedro Paulo Malta
Video editing
Bruno Fontes
Interns
Luísa da Costa de Oliveira and Marcelle Araujo Lins
Film digitization
LUPA/UFF - University Laboratory for Audiovisual Preservation
ReferencesDo Castelo ao Januário: o Observatório Nacional muda de morro
Sabina Ferreira A. Luz
A Vitrine e o Espelho: O Rio de Janeiro de Carlos Sampaio
Carlos Kessel
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