the ladeira misericórdia (slope of mercy) was one of the first main roads in rio de janeiro and, had been in use since the mid sixteenth century, as access road to the old morro do castelo (castle hill).

there were nearly a dozen buildings on the road at that time and at the top was the largo do castelo (castle square) and the colégio dos padres jesuítas (jesuit college).   

hills were strategic points in the city, used to erect forts to protect and defend the entrance of the baía de guanabara (guanabara bay) and access to minas gerais, land of the gold mines.