Fragments of 19th-century Rio: Misericórdia and its Thoroughfares

Abstract

The Misericórdia neighborhood, located in the former freguesia (a historical administrative unit comparable to a parish) of São José in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, underwent profound transformations in its land use and occupation throughout its long trajectory, reflecting the social, political, and economic dynamics that shaped the city. This study focuses on the neighborhood and its streets, particularly during the 1870s, mobilizing a diversified set of sources — such as historical maps, images, news reports, advertisements, and excerpts from literature that address complementary temporalities and contexts — in order to shed light on the everyday life of the area through an approach that articulates both macro and micro spatial scales. In the second half of the nineteenth century, growing investments in urban infrastructure, combined with the exploitation of land as a source of profit, induced the subdivision of existing properties in the city center. The findings reveal a neighborhood characterized by a strong presence of commerce and services, marked by the coexistence of different forms of dwelling. By highlighting everyday practices and the uses of urban architectures, the investigation seeks to position Misericórdia as a strategic site for rethinking the city and its memories, while also demonstrating the potential of articulating primary sources in historiographical revisions aimed at recognizing actors and territories traditionally rendered invisible within Urban Studies.