Morro da Providência ("Providence Hill") is afavela located between the twoRio de Janeiro districts ofSanto Cristo andGamboa. It has an altitude of 115 metres[1] and is located in the port area of the city (currently the subject of a major revitalization known as thePorto Maravilha). It is widely considered to be the first favela community inBrazil.
"The granite hump of Providencia gazes down like a stern guardian on the old port of Rio de Janeiro. It offers probably the finest viewpoint over any city I know."[2]
In 1897, victorious veterans of theCanudos War who were promised land in the old capital upon their return found that such promises were not kept. In frustration and desperation, the soldiers invaded the hill scrub land close to the (then) Ministry of War. The hill was initially namedMorro da Favela after thefavela plant, a skin-irritating bush belonging to thespurge family, which is indigenous to the region where the soldiers fought against the Canudos settlers in the eastern province ofBahia.[3][4]
In the early 20th century, freedslaves joined the soldiers and were joined by new European migrants as well, because it was the only affordable place to live near their work in the city's centre and port.
22°54′03″S43°11′48″W / 22.90083°S 43.19667°W /-22.90083; -43.19667
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