The narrow streets that correspond to the square shaped by Praça da República, Rua dos Andradas, Rua da Alfândega and Rua Buenos Aires was first occupied by Portuguese wholesale traders of textiles and foodstuffs. Between the late nineteenth and early twentieth century the commerce of the region underwent some changes, due to the arrival of Semitic origin immigrants – Lebanese, Syrian Christians and Jews – who came from the Middle East and Central Europe. Subsequent migration of Chinese in the 60's and more recently, Koreans, would again affect the site, whose ethnic heterogeneity is unique in the city.
Popularly, the region is called SAARA and stands for “Sociedade dos Amigos e Adjacências da Rua da Alfândega”, literally translated as "Society of Friends and adjacencies of Rua da Alfândega". The acronym corresponds to the association of merchants who, in 1962, avoided expropriation by interrupting the opening of an avenue linking Praça XV to Central do Brasil. The commercial center survives boasting new peddlers, microphone in hand, a token of an resistance by minority groups. Now, it speaks Chinese and Korean, in addition to having a northeastern accent and a swing to its voice that is typical of Rio’s hills However, the site is very much alive with all its trinkets
Stage of historical happenings such as the acclamation of Dom Pedro I as Emperor of Brazil and the proclamation of the Republic, Campo de Santana has already been called Aclamação and Praça da República on account of those events. Long before , it was used as a waste dump site. However, in 1880, a project of the French landscaper Auguste François Marie Glaziou, aimed to "give lungs to the capital of the Empire”, changed its landscape. The garden received fountains, waterfalls, rocks and more than 60 thousand plants, many of which are preserved until today. It was designed to be the city center’s green haven, home to ducks, geese and agoutis, among other species.
The building, which was once headquarters of the Ministry of War and the Army, was the largest government building of its time, with 86,000 square meters and 23 floors, a landmark of the 2nd World War. Its construction began during the Getúlio Vargas’ 1st government and was inaugurated on August 28, 1941, along with the opening of Presidente Vargas Ave. With the transfer of the seat of government to Brasilia, the Palace came to be called Duque de Caxias and is currently occupied by the Eastern Military Command and other administrative bodies of the Army.
Being the most popular of the region, this church was originally envisioned for the devotees of São Gonçalo. However,in 1850, the Brotherhood of São Jorge was established in this same church, bringing along new devotees. Highlights go to the image of São Gonçalo Garcia, depicted with two spears cutting through his body and the tip of his ear cut off. São Jorge is represented in two pictures: one at the altar and another one in the side chapel, displayed in holy processions.
One can still see the presence of the Lebanese-Syrian occupation - in the houses, in the commerce and in the choice for narrow streets. Reminiscent of that era is the Church of São Basílio, first Eastern Christian temple in Brazil, erected in 1941, following the Greek Melkite rite. Two Melkite patriarchs were accomodated there: Máximo IV, in 1955, and Gregorios III, in 2010.
These two saints, of African origin, were only worshiped in Brazil after the arrival of the slaves. Its construction began in 1747 by a Brotherhood consisting of people from Cape Verde, Costa da Mina and Mozambique, as well as freed slaves. Relics such as a rare image of São Bom Homem, patron saint of merchants, can still be found there.
Founded in 1884, the institution has gained importance in the struggle for religious freedom, at a time when the doctrines of Spiritism were associated with madness. It has been moved several times until, , it was settled at Passos Ave, in 1911 It houses a Spiritism center, focusing on worship and study activities, in addition to a bookstore that has helped spread the doctrine of Allan Kardec in Brazil by editing the Reformador newspaper and many Spiritism titles, including the works of Chico Xavier.
The Brotherhood of Lampadosa (or ALampadosa, as it was popularly known) was founded in 1714 by a group of devotees. It was based at the Igreja do Rosário and São Benedito until its own headquarters were built, in 1748. Reportedly, Tiradentes would have attended part of the mass there, on his way to the gallows, in 1792.
Created on May 14, 1837, by the initiative of a group of Portuguese immigrants, the Portuguese Royal Office has been a public library since 1900. It functions as a cultural institute of the Portuguese-speaking world. In its collection, the highlights are works by Portuguese authors and rare titles such as the 1572 first edition of "Os Lusíadas", which belonged to Companhia de Jesus. The building in neomanuelino style displays, on its front , statues of Vasco da Gama, Pedro Álvares Cabral, Prince D. Henrique and Luís de Camões.
From the ritual of entrudos - the odalisques’ haberdashery sequins - up until the costume contests at clubs such as Monte Líbano, our Carnival has acquired a slight touch of the Arabian culture. Even the samba rhythm was influenced by an Arabian originated percussion instrument, the adufe, a kind of tambourine brought to Brazil by the Africans. As the march goes:
Allah- lah - oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh,
It’s so hot, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
We crossed the Sahara desert
The sun was hot and it burned our faces
Allah - lah - oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, ô
We came from Egypt
And often
We had to pray
Allah, Allah, Allah, my good Allah
Send water to Iaiá
Send water to Ioiô
Allah, my good Allah.
The image of the peddler became associated with Arab immigrants in Brazil because of the changes they made on the way commerce was done. By the time they arrived, commerce had been a domain of the Portuguese. The Arab immigrants first took over the door-to-door sales, with the creation of the ‘magazine ambulante', a sort of itinerant sale The peddlers would carry large wooden boxes, which contained a bit of everything: threads, needles, fabric, perfumes, jewelry... Soon afterwards, they took over the wholesale market, building small shops near the railroad and Rio’s port. It was then that Rua da Alfândega became a warehouse in the city center, where traders sought the trinkets that would be sold in the suburbs of Rio
The library opened on March 29, 2014 to be the head office of the network of Park Libraries implemented by the the Government of Rio de Janeiro, includes Biblioteca Parque de Manguinhos, the Public Library of Niterói and Biblioteca Parque da Rocinha. Its literary collection has over 250,000 items, art books, comics, 20,000 films, a children's library, theater and auditorium. It also promotes activities in order to encourage reading, besides being an informal space for learning.
Adress: 1261, Presidente Vargas Ave.
Phone: (21) 2332-8647/ 2332-7225
Opening hours: from Tuesday to Saturday, 11am – 7pm
A speaker system that transmits its programming to listeners circulating in SAARA ("Friendly Society and adjacencies of Rua da Alfândega"), Rádio Saara works as a community radio, alternating promotions, public utility and services offered by the open-air shopping center.
Address: 91, Passos Ave.
Phone: (21) 2221-2678
Website: https://www.facebook.com/radio.saara
A traditional haberdashery dedicated to Carnival costumes, Casa Turuna completed a century of history in 2015 and remains a reference for revelers of all ages, although its main store has been reduced, from 450 m² to 200 m², with the purpose of reducing costs.
Address: 77, Passos Ave.
Phone: (21) 2509-3908 / (21) 2242-9187
Website: www.casaturuna.com.br
Founded in the 40s by Lebanese Narciso Mansur, in 1954 the restaurant was acquired by two other immigrants: the Spaniard Manuel Fernandez Dominguez and the Portuguese Antonio Vieira Leite Cabral, who kept the Lebanese cuisine moving and consolidated the name Cedro do Líbano in the gastronomic scene.
Address: 231, Senhor dos Passos St.
Phone: 21 2224.0163 | 21 2221.9763
Website: http://www.cedrodolibano.com.br/
The site occupies a three-story building in Tiradentes Square, which brings together entrepreneurs, academics and students to think about the future of the city of Rio de Janeiro. It is part of the global network of laboratories of the School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation at Columbia University (GSAPP).
Address: 48, Praça Tiradentes - Centro
Phone: (21) 2507-8505
Website: www.facebook.com/Studio-X-Rio
This art center houses and preserves the work of artist Helio Oiticica. It is located in a building of the 19th century It has a conference room and exhibition galleries which collect samples of domestic and foreign artists.
Address: Luís de Caões St. - Centro
Phone: (21) 2242-1012
Website: www.facebook.com/CMA.HelioOiticica