PRAÇA MAUÁ
Busy Mauá square with a bucolic setting and a long and interesting history of Rio's urban development
In the huge redevelopment worksite in the centre of Rio, the relinquishment of Piazza Mauà is quite symbolic of the "urban marketing" policy of metropolises in emerging countries. Praça Mauá has a long history, interesting to understand the urban evolution of Rio. The statue of Baron Mauá (Brazilian industrial pioneer), created by the sculptor Rodolpho Bernardelli and inaugurated in 1910 in the center of the square, should not believe his eyes. The transformations over the past century have been spectacular. Baptized Beach of Our Lady and then Largo da Prainha when the city was created, the place was initially suitable for bathing, just a stone's throw from the Monasterio São Bento on the hill. A bucolic setting which was very quickly urbanized, especially in 1914 as it became the landing port for boats arriving from the Old Continent and other Latin American countries. A dubious place at night, Praça Mauá was lined with bars, concert halls and brothels for passing sailors throughout the 20th century and not very well frequented at night. It was the focus of a project to rehabilitate the port area in the heart of the city in Porto Maravilha and is now very popular with tourists and Cariocas alike. The giant letters "Cidade Olimpica" have been placed on this new esplanade, lined with numerous palm trees often beaten by the wind. People come here to take pictures between two visits of the MAR and the Museo do Amanhã, or simply to have a good time with their family.