Rua do Catete, Heritage street in Catete, Brazil.
Rua do Catete is a heritage street in Catete that runs in two sections from Largo da Gloria to Pedro Americo Street. It is lined with banks, shops, and buildings that reflect different phases of Rio's urban development over the centuries.
The street began as an indigenous path that existed before Portuguese and French settlers arrived in the 1500s. In the 1900s it became the seat of federal government before the capital relocated to Brasilia in 1960.
The street takes its name from the Tupi language, referring to water from the original forest. This linguistic origin reflects the indigenous roots of the area and remains visible in how locals speak about the neighborhood.
Two metro stations, Catete and Largo do Machado, offer direct access to the street. It is best to walk it early in the day when traffic is lighter and architectural details are easier to spot.
Catete Palace once stood on this street and housed the Brazilian president from 1897 until 1960. The building now tells the story of a pivotal period in the nation's history and allows visitors to see how the government operated during those decades.
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