O MANGUE, o REI e O TRÁFICO: QUINTA DA BOA VISTA REVELADA E OUTRAS HISTÓRIAS

Upon his arrival in Rio de Janeiro, the Prince Regent of Portugal was immediately given the finest residence in the city – a gift from the Portuguese merchant Elias Antônio Lopes. The problem was that the house was located at the end of a long and unpleasant road, surrounded by swamps and mangroves. However, what could have been a true "Greek gift" ended up becoming the magnificent Imperial Palace, surrounded by gardens and connected to the center of the Court by a fully urbanized area. Currently, the palace houses the Imperial Museum, and its surroundings form Quinta da Boa Vista, in the São Cristóvão neighborhood, one of Rio's most visited spots. The Portuguese Elias Antônio Lopes, a native of Porto and a wholesale merchant on Rua Direita (now Rua Primeiro de Março, the most important street at the time; it will be featured in a video on the channel), was the one who offered his newly built and still unoccupied farm to the Prince Regent, with very clear intentions: to secure benefits of various kinds. The flattery was so great that he ordered the royal coat of arms to be placed on the building's facade, revealing it during King John's first visit. The farm's land was part of the former Engenho Velho farm, belonging to the Jesuits. After the confiscation of these lands (the Jesuits were expelled from Brazil by order of the Marquis of Pombal in 1759), Elias acquired the property. The Marquis of Pombal's name is immortalized on a downtown street where the Military Police Museum is located. Construction of the farm began in 1803 and was completed in 1808. Located on a hillside, with a privileged view of the sea, which gave rise to the name that would make the place famous, it was undoubtedly the most imposing residence in the small town, which was still developing at the time. King John expanded the land, ordering the expropriation of several properties and land in the surrounding area. He also had the site leveled to create a large garden, adorned with several fountains and avenues. #quintadaboavista #riodejaneirorj