Rio de Janeiro is known worldwide as the Marvelous City. However, it’s not all flowers. Some places even have a reputation for being haunted because of crimes, tragedies, urban legends and more stories. Shall we find out a little more about these haunted places in Rio de Janeiro?
Castelinho do Flamengo
Officially called the Oduvaldo Vianna Filho Cultural Center, this place is better known as ‘Castelinho do Flamengo’.
The property belonged to the Fernandes family, but the couple were run over by a car in the 1930s. However, their only daughter was left in the care of a guardian, who mistreated her and locked her in the castelinho’s tower. They say that after the girl died, she came back to haunt the place – and residents have reported hearing strange noises coming from the building.
Flamengo Beach, 158 – Flamengo
Teles Arch
A busy tourist spot in the center of Rio, the Arco do Teles carries a chilling story ! This is because, according to rumors, a well-known resident of the place, Bárbara dos Prazeres, committed several crimes at the end of the 18th century, including a husband and a lover.
In addition, legend has it that, after she grew old, she stole children to bathe in their blood, with the intention of becoming younger.
📌Praça XV – Center
National Historical Museum
It was in the National Historical Museum, in the dungeons, that Tiradentes’ body was dismembered after being executed in what is now Tiradentes Square.
For a long time, the place was reputed to be haunted by various ghosts and many people avoided even passing by. After renovations and because it has a very complete historical collection, the Museum is a favorite among Cariocas.
📌Praça Mal. Âncora Square, s/n – Center
Valongo Quay
It was at Valongo Quay that the enslaved people who came to Brazil from Africa disembarked. Because of the unsanitary conditions to which they were subjected, many of them died there – and it remained abandoned for years after the abolition of slavery.
As a result, the Quay was once considered haunted because, even though it was deserted, there were many reports of the sounds of chains being dragged that could be heard in the area at night. Nowadays, the place has been revitalized and it’s well worth visiting this historical heritage of the city.
📌Av. Barão de Tefé – Saúde
Pedro II Psychiatric Hospital
The site is no longer a hospital and was turned into the Museum of Images of the Unconscious in 1952 by psychiatrist Nise da Silveira. Her art therapy work was extremely important in fighting to end invasive and violent treatment of patients with mental disorders.
However, because of the history of mistreatment, there was a time when reports from the neighborhood about moans of pain and meaningless words after the activities ended were frequent. In addition, people who had died there were said to be wandering around waiting for “visits” from relatives.
📌Rua Ramiro Magalhães, 521 – Engenho de Dentro
Did you know the history and fame of these haunted places in Rio?