São Luiz do Paraitinga: the river and post-floodscenarios

Abstract

The city of São Luiz do Paraitinga has had a unique trajectory in relation to the context of cities in the Paraíba Valley region, in São Paulo, Brazil. Since the foundation of its settlement and the planning of its layout in the 18th century by Morgado de Mateus, the town has remained on the fringes of regional development, playing a less important role in the coffee
production circuit, which has allowed certain local traditions to remain, such as the caipira culture, the  rural way of life and the religious festivities that are still local attractions today. In 2010, an unprecedented flood
swept through its historic center. Buildings made of wattle and daub were unable to withstand the water and collapsed, with partial and total damage remaining. The reconstruction of the city, as well as the landmarks listed at state and federal level, represent a unique case among similar Brazilian cases, which  justified a more in-depth study. The 1982 Conselho de Defesa do Patrimônio Histórico, Arqueológico, Artístico e Turístico do Estado and 2010 Instituto do Patrimônio Histórico e Artístico Nacional  registrations reiterated the importance of the city center, its architectural ensemble and its landscape, as it was one of the first planned foundations. However, the social, cultural and economic contrasts between the Historic Center and other neighborhoods in the city  raise the question of the effectiveness of landmarks and their management as a Historic and Landscape Heritage. In 2022, the cycle restarted and a flood again caused damage to at least  120 buildings. Faced with this fact, the question arises of how to preserve a landscape that is permanently at risk.