Portandsea

It's been so long, time is the harbor of longing
Beaches of Rio de Janeiro in the summer
I want the destiny of the ocean's waters

Image description: This is a painting depicting a historic square. On the left side, we see a building with several windows and a red roof. In the center, there is a structure with a dome and tower, possibly a monument or statue. On the right, there is another large building with a green roof. In the background, we see a church with a tower and dome. The square is full of people walking, and some are near a wall. At the bottom of the image, there is a small body of water with boats.

As an Atlantic city connected to the world by transoceanic routes, one of Rio de Janeiro's most important assets was its port. The conditions that Guanabara Bay offered to sailors of the Atlantic Ocean directly influenced the choice of the site for the city's founding. During the early period of the Portuguese presence in the territory, it functioned as a watering and provisioning port along the sea routes toward the Río de la Plata, but soon afterward it became established as a place for producing and distributing food to other parts of Brazil. In the 18th century, it became a strategic port, receiving thousands of enslaved Africans and shipping out the precious metals brought from the country's interior.

Image description: This is a black-and-white painting showing a scene of a boat in motion. On the left side, we see a man from behind, wearing a hat and light-colored clothing, holding the helm. In front of him, inside the boat, are several seated people, some wearing hats and others in simpler clothing. Behind them is a wooden structure that appears to be part of the boat. In the background, we see mountains and other ships in the distance.

However, until the late 19th century, the port of Rio was divided into several loading and unloading points for people and goods, spread among the piers of the trapiches and the different quays of the port area. Since there was not enough depth for ships to dock right by the beaches, small boats carried people and cargo to dry land. The rowers were, almost entirely, Africans or their direct descendants, and they skillfully steered their boats to the landing points, never failing to pass through Customs inspection first.

Image description: This is a black-and-white photograph of a harbor and sea. On the left side, we see the sea with a few small boats floating on it. In the center, there is a series of industrial buildings, including a large factory with several structures and chimneys. On the right, there are historic buildings with tiled roofs, some with arches at the entrance. In the background, there is a hill with vegetation and an isolated building on the right.

Starting in 1890, smaller-scale works began that were completed in the 20th century, and it was only under the Rodrigues Alves administration (1902-1906) that the reform gained strong momentum, given the growth of import activity through the port of Rio de Janeiro. These reforms widened the distance between the beach and the sea of Guanabara Bay, opened streets, and tore down houses. Other urban interventions were carried out in the port region throughout the 20th and 21st centuries, with impacts on the local population. Rebellions and protests mobilized the port region, such as the Vaccine Revolt in 1904, the largest urban conflict in the city's history. This is a densely occupied region, with a long history of bond and sense of belonging felt by its inhabitants in relation to the port. They are residents of neighborhoods such as Saúde, Gamboa, and Santo Cristo, cariocas of different origins facing the sea and affected by it.

Image description: This is an old black-and-white photograph showing workers in a harbor setting. On the left, we see a large body of water, while on the right stands a ship with a metal structure. People are spread out along a concrete barrier that separates the ship from the sea. Some are close to the ship, while others stand farther away, forming groups. Behind them lies an open area with water. In the lower right, a man stands near a steam engine marked "N°14."