The Palacete do Caminho Novo in São Cristóvão, Rio de Janeiro, is a rare architectural exemplar from the 19th century, and it is one of the first buildings listed as a national historic and artistic heritage site by the Brazilian Institute of National Historic and Artistic Heritage (IPHAN) in 1938.
Electric lighting arrived in Brazil, mainly in public lighting, proving to be more efficient than previously adopted methods, such as gas or kerosene, in a historical period in which the country was among the world’s pioneers in the application of electrical energy. This was made possible by the interest of
The Nabuco Chapel Mausoleum was the work of Italian sculptor Giovanni Nicolini, inaugurated in 1914, commissioned by the Government of Pernambuco. It features a visual narrative, depicting half-naked men, women, and children theatrically portraying the effort made to raise the coffin of the one who was the “redeemer of the
In August 1888, the city of Rio de Janeiro welcomed the return of Emperor Dom Pedro II after a year-long trip to Europe for medical treatment. As they sighted Guanabara Bay, they saw the tribute made by the students of the Military School, then located at Praia Vermelha. They had
The book The History of Brazil through its Constitutions is a comprehensive and fascinating work that traces Brazil’s trajectory from its colonial period to contemporary times, with a special focus on the different constitutions that shaped the country’s political and legal organization throughout the centuries. Written by Rodrigo Saraiva Marinho,
Emperor Dom Pedro II and Empress Dona Teresa Cristina were simple individuals, averse to any kind of luxury, and palace meals were characterized by frugality. The Emperor’s favorite dish, always present in every meal, was soups, especially a succulent chicken broth. It seems that this preference was some kind of
Joaquim Aurélio Barreto Nabuco de Araújo was born on August 19, 1849, in Recife, Brazil. He was an important Brazilian politician, diplomat, writer, and abolitionist. From a young age, Nabuco showed interest and skill in literature and social issues. Nabuco was educated at home by private tutors and later studied
Alberto Nepomuceno (1864-1920), a Brazilian conductor and composer, was born in Fortaleza, the capital of Ceará. His parents were Vitor Augusto Nepomuceno and Maria Virgínia de Oliveira Paiva. He began studying music with his father, who was a violinist, organist, teacher, and chapel master at the Cathedral of Fortaleza. In
On July 15, 1889 Dom Pedro II suffered an assassination attempt in Rio de Janeiro. Dom Pedro II, accompanied by his wife, daughter, and eldest grandson, went to the Sant’Anna Theater, now known as the Carlos Gomes Theater, in Rio de Janeiro. At the end of the performance, well past
The first Brazilian composer to achieve international renown, Antonio Carlos Gomes (1836-1896), was born in Campinas, São Paulo, on July 11, 1836. After graduating with distinction, Carlos produced his first opera, “A Noite do Castelo” (September 1861), which was a great success.
Carnival is a popular and cultural festival that has ancient origins and is associated with various traditions around the world. Although it is difficult to determine the exact origin of Carnival, it is believed to have roots in pagan celebrations that took place in ancient Rome and Greece.
The book The Kingdom That Was Not of This World: Chronicle of an Unproclaimed Republic was published in 2015 by Valentina Publishers. This non-fiction work was written by Marcos Costa, and I read it in the Kindle version. Marcos Costa initially considered becoming an architect but soon changed his mind
The Emperor’s Beards: D. Pedro II, The Story of a Monarch in Comics is an adaptation of Lilia Schwarcz’s book, simply titled The Emperor’s Beards. The comic book version was released on January 27, 2014, with the return of Lilia and the assistance of illustrator Spacca. Now, Spacca guides the
I finished reading the book “My Formation” by Joaquim Nabuco, a book that reveals many details about Brazil and the world in the 19th century and sheds light on the author’s personality. I have already written my review of the book “Abolitionism,” where you can find the roots of the
Discover the official language of Brazil! In Brazil, the official and spoken language is Portuguese. The reason Portuguese is the predominant language in the country dates back to the period of colonization by the Portuguese in the 16th century. The linguistic history of Brazil is closely linked to the arrival
