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The Morro do Cantagalo is situated above the best neighbourhoods of Rio de Janeiro; Copacabana, Ipanema, Leblon and Lagoa and has recently received an elevator, at the Metro Station General Osório in Ipanema. This is a big step towards integration of the favelas into the city, an effort that has gained importance especially with view to the big sports events of 2014 and 2016.
Integration, yes, but as soon as you put a foot into the favela, you will realize, that there was no talking about adaptation. This place pulsates in a different rhythm than the rest of the city, the children seem more free and open than at the bottom of the hill, the faces of the adults maybe more tired because of the efforts of every-day life, but also friendly, happy, and ready for a chat, simply typically Brazilian. The houses are unusual, boxes above boxes stuck to the hill, interconnected with alleyways and above all stairs. A labyrinth that only makes sense to the residents, that have seen the changes in the communities happen, because 30 years ago, this all here looked very different.
This is one of the basic thoughts of the MUF, the Favela Museum. This group of people wants to research and preserve the history and the memory of the favelas and make this information accessible to visitors to the community and also their own children.
The cultural heritage of the favelas is being passed on and recreated every day through a broad offer of sportive, musical, cultural and artistic activities for children, youths and adults, from the samba school and capoeira, to painting and recycle art.
The history, customs, and difficulty of survival can be discovered in 27 graffity panels spread throughout the community and I will guide you along this circuit explaining you the arts.
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