at a glance

the beach was used for the medicinal baths required by the king of portugal, dom joão vi (john vi), who had been bitten by a tick. his doctors advised him to bathe in the sea to reduce the swelling on his leg. during this time the area's popularity increased - not only due the king's presence but undoubtedly also due to its natural beauty.

the king's bath house or the casa de banhos de d. joão vi (bath house of king john vi) is preserved today. it houses the museu da comlurb (museum of comlurb). although caju was originally part of the historic district of são cristóvão, today it has its own identity. the construction of the new avenida brasil (brazil avenue) in the 1940 set off caju as its own neighborhood.

the bairro also has the distinction of being the birthplace of beach volleyball. the sport was created by the by rowers club atlhético cajuense (caju athletic club) rowers and members of the brazilian army around the year 1910 on the sands of praia caju.