along with the farms, this elegant neighborhood was home to the seminar são josé, and various high-end sports clubs such as the 'clube desportivo do rio de janeiro', the 'clube ibéria' and the clube minerva and also acted as the army headquarters during the reign of dom joão vi. 

the most famous homestead was known as casa do bispo (bishop house), was erected in the 17th century serving as the residence of bispo frei antônio do desterro, and eventually transformed into the são jose seminary and has been well-conserved until present day, eventually turning into a cultural heritage site - the bispo held an enormous amount of influence in rio comprido during this era, and his lands extended so far as to receive the nickname 'pedra do bispo' (bishop rock).

rua do bispo was opened in 1844, a street stretching from the praça condessa paulo de frontin, then called the largo do bispo - it was from there that rua estrela and rua do rio comprido also began, now aristides lobo street.