Pedra do Sal

Pedra do Sal (English: "Rock of Salt") is a historical and religious site in Rio de Janeiro, in the neighborhood of Saúde. The site was originally a quilombo village. An association group still lives there: Community Descendents from the Quilombos of Pedra do Sal (Portuguese: Comunidade Remanescentes de Quilombos da Pedra do Sal). The site was recognised in 1984 by INEPAC, the Institute for state cultural heritage (Instituto Estadual do Patrimônio Cultural). Pedra do Sal is a place with special significance for Cariocas of African descent and fans of samba and choro music. It is considered the center of the area known locally as "Little Africa", which was full of collective houses of escaped and freed slaves. Great sambistas have played there, including Donga (musician), João da Baiana, Pixinguinha and Heitor dos Prazeres.

History circa 1608

A group of migrants from Bahia moved to the Saúde area as where prices were cheap and the area was close to the port where the men could find work with cargo ships. The first large docks of Rio de Janeiro and warehouses were being built at this time, the alleys and streets extended to Pedra da Prainha, later known as Pedra do Sal, where there was a large slave market.