Cais do Valongo

Welcome to Kice doo Vah-lon-goo, perhaps the most historically significant and emotionally resonant archaeological site in the Americas. You are standing before the remains of what was once the largest slave port in human history. …

As you look down into the excavated pit of the wharf, you can clearly see the different archaeological 'strata' or layers that tell the story of this site's transformation. The lowest and oldest layer consists of irregular,…

When you stand at the edge of the wharf, try to imagine the scene as it was in the early 1800s. Documentation from the period reveals a heartbreaking reality: many of those arriving here were children between the ages of ten and…

Just a short walk from the wharf, you will find the Jardim Suspenso do Valongo, or the Suspended Garden of Valongo. Designed in 1906 by the landscape architect Luis Rey, this garden was built in the neoclassical French style,…

Walking a few blocks into the neighborhood of Gamboa, we reach the Instituto de Pesquisa e Memória Pretos Novos (IPN). This site was discovered in 1996 when a local family, the Guimarães, were renovating their home and found…

To focus only on the suffering of Valongo would be a scholarly oversight, for this area is also a site of incredible 'vitality and affirmation.' The surrounding neighborhood, known as 'Pequena África' or Little Africa, became a…

A critical scholarly detail of Valongo's history is the 'Lei Feijó' of 1831. Under pressure from Great Britain, Brazil passed its first law prohibiting the import of enslaved people. …

As we conclude our time at Kice doo Vah-lon-goo, take a final look at these stones. They are more than just an archaeological site; they are a monument to the millions of souls who passed through here and the millions more who…