at a glance

located in the zona oeste (west zone) of rio, curral falso is a small sub neighborhood of santíssimo, which was among the first areas within the modern rio de janeiro to be settled by the portuguese colonizers. it is situated betwen the neighborhoods of sepetiba and paciência along the estrdada da pedra.

shortly after the war against the french the local landlord, martim afonso de sousa, gave a strip of land to one of the key figures of the conflict - cristóvão monteiro, who later went on to become an important member of the city hall of rio de janeiro.  he was the first owner of the land, which would one day comprise the prominent santa cruz ranch. 

shortly after receiving the property he commissioned the construction of a sugar mill and a chapel in the location known as 'curral falso' (fake stables) - this was the first steps in the occupation of the santa cruz region.