Due to its proximity to Quinta da Boa Vista, Caju beach was frequented by none other than the Portuguese royal family. Legend has it that it was there that Dom João VI, famous for not being very fond of contact with water, acquired the habit of taking medicinal baths. Credit for this goes less to the beach's attractions than to a tick, whose inflamed bite is said to have led his doctor to recommend therapeutic dips. Be that as it may, the prince began frequenting a Casa de Banhos (Bathhouse), which is currently one of the only remnants of the old bathing resort. Today, it houses the Museu da Limpeza Urbana, linked to Comlurb.
Image description: This is an old sepia-toned photograph showing a coastal area with several industrial and residential buildings. On the left side, we see smaller, more distant buildings, while on the right there are large structures that appear to be factories or warehouses. In the center, there is a complex of buildings closer to the water, with some green areas. On the right, there is a large industrial area with various constructions and equipment. The sea is present throughout the image, with some boats floating on it.In that remote past, the presence of the royal family prompted other members of the Portuguese nobility to frequent the beach as well. But the area, today, has nothing aristocratic about it. The beach itself succumbed to the effects of time and to construction in the surrounding area, such as the Rio–Niterói Bridge. The sea waters are polluted. And, along what would be that stretch of shoreline, the yards and parking lots of the Port of Rio unfold instead.
Image description: This is an old photograph of a beach with mountains in the background. On the left side, we see a small isolated structure, while the center features a sandy beach with a few trees and a small building in the distance. On the right, there is a large complex of buildings, possibly a hotel or residence, located near the sea. The mountains in the background form a clear silhouette against the bright sky. The image is in black and white.
