Baths of King João VI at Caju, Heritage museum in Caju, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
The Baths of King João VI is a stone structure with channels and basins showing how water systems worked in the early 1800s. The complex had separate areas for different purposes and featured Portuguese building techniques of that era.
The baths were built when the Portuguese royal family fled to Rio in 1808 to escape war in Europe. This place became part of royal life and the reshaping of the city under royal rule.
The baths show how the Portuguese royal court and Rio's upper classes bathed and cleansed themselves in the early 1800s. This was a gathering place for the elite, reflecting everyday practices of wealthy society during King João VI's reign.
The site is accessible outdoors and has shaded areas under trees where you can rest while visiting. It helps to wear comfortable shoes since the ground is uneven and water may be present nearby.
The water routes were clever engineering that carried water from a nearby spring to the royal basins. This stone and channel system was advanced technology for Brazil in the 1800s.
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