at a glance

the anchieta neighborhood was once a part of the municipality of nova iguaçu which also included nilópolis, mesquita and são joão de meriti.

the neighborhood is also known for one of the largest favelas  in rio de janeiro. anchieta is thought to have an indian cemetery in the area near the praça (square) itanhomi or praça (square) mariópolis.

it is for that reason that the many street names, such as aiuba, juarana and cracituba, are indigenous names. another square of note is the praça granito (granite square) is the largest square in rio de janeiro suburb.

brazil's second emperor dom pedro ii (peter ii) considered establishing a tuberculosis sanatorium here. this area was once teeming with sugarcane and coffee plantations before the turn of the twentieth century. it is also the source of the rio pavuna (pavuna river).