The Caju neighborhood holds one of the city’s oldest cemeteries, called Ordem Terceira da Penitência, founded in 1858. With respect and attention, the visitors are taken back to the 19th century, guided by the historian Milton Teixeira. The tour is about two hours long, and is combined with the performance of the itinerant theater group Corsário Carioca, adding important characters to the tour, like Estácio de Sá, Araribóia, and Nicolau Villegagnon.

There are around 11 thousand people, in total. The chapels built side by side along the wooded path house the richest people, combining Art Déco with Middle Age and Classic Greek styles. Portuguese tiles, works by the stained glass artist Gastão Formenti, and marble sculptures by José Vicente de Souza also decorate the place. Barão de Vista Alegre’s and Visconde de Itaúna’s tombs are in the tour. The only building in Art Nouveau in the city holds the ossuary dated from 1907, a place for the burial of the poor and homeless. A mass is celebrated every third Saturday of the month at the cemetery’s main chapel, which has been recently restored. The visit is free, you only have to arrive 15 minutes before the tour begins.