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22°54′39.63″S43°10′32.61″W / 22.9110083°S 43.1757250°W /-22.9110083; -43.1757250
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Cinelândia is the popular name of a major public square in the centre ofRio de Janeiro,Brazil. Its official name isPraça Floriano Peixoto, in honour of the second president of Brazil,Floriano Peixoto.
Incolonial times, the main structure in the Cinelândia area was theAjuda Convent [pt], built for women in 1750.[1] Today's square started to gain its current shape in the early 20th century, when theBrazilian government considered thatRio de Janeiro, then thecapital of theRepublic, needed to be completely overhauled.[2]
Beginning in 1904, thecity centre was remodeled following the latest trends in hygiene and urbanism under the direction of mayorFrancisco Pereira Passos, with particular inspiration fromHaussmann's renovation of Paris.[2] The centrepiece of the reform was a large boulevard – theAvenida Central, (later renamedAvenida Rio Branco) - which was built crossing the old city centre, passing by the Ajuda Convent. Most of thecortiços in central Rio were demolished, which helped fuel the growth of earlyfavelas.[2][3] The area in front of the Ajuda Convent was turned into a public square.[4]
During the early decades of the 20th century a series of monumental public buildings were built facing the square. These were theMunicipal Theatre, theBrazilian National Library, theMunicipal Chamber of Rio de Janeiro (Pedro Ernesto Palace [pt]), theNational Museum of Fine Arts, theSupreme Federal Court (which had its old building converted into theFederal Judiciary Cultural Centre [pt] after thecapital of Brazil was moved toBrasília in 1960) and theFederal Senate, which had itsformer building controversially demolished in 1976.[5] The square concentrated a great part of the political and cultural life of Brazil. The buildings surrounding the square, mostly following theFrenchBeaux-Arts architectural style, were a symbol of the modernisation of the city.[6][7]
In the centre of the square, a monument toMarshal Floriano Peixoto, second president of the Republic, was erected in 1910. The bronze monument, designed by sculptor Eduardo Sá and cast in France, depicts scenes of important events in Brazilian history.[8] Another bronze statue, inaugurated in front of the Municipal Theatre, pays homage toCarlos Gomes, Brazil's foremost 19th century composer.[9]
In 1979 aRio de Janeiro Metro station was opened in the square.Cinelândia Station was one of the first five stations in the then-new network.[10] ARio de Janeiro Light Rail station was opened in 2016. At the same time, the section of Avenida Rio Branco that passes by Cinelândia waspedestrianized.[11]
The old Ajuda Convent survived the initial remodeling of the square, but was finally demolished in 1911. In its place, Spanish entrepreneur Francisco Serrador built a series of tall buildings that concentrated the best cinemas of the city. It was due to these theatres that the area became popularly known asCinelândia ("Cinema land").
Most of the cinemas are now closed, but the region around Cinelândia is still a lively spot in Rio thanks to its bars, restaurants and cultural attractions.
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