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Portugal Street |
São Luís is located on an isle that, during the beginning of the colonization, was
inhabited by tupinambá indians. In 1535, there was only a small settlement that resisted bravely against the indian attacks.
Right in the beginning of the 17th century, frenchs arrived to the region
and, in 1612, founded São Luís. But the city remained under French control for only three years, when it was retaken by the settlers. By the time
the Frenchs were expelled, in 1615, the portugueses built fortresses to protect the territory.
However, the fortresses didn’t avoid a new invasion to the city, this time dutch
troops commanded by Maurício de Nassau, from between 1641 and 1644, until being expelled. Portugal then invested in the colonization of the region
with the establishment of Companhia de Comércio do Estado do Maranhão. Cacao, tobacco and sugar crane were cultivated for exporting and, during
the 18th century, with the Secession War at USA, Maranhão also began to provide England with cotton, promoting the development of São Luís
Harbor.
The historic center of São Luís hás around 4000 protected constructions, remnants
of the epoch between the 17th and 19th centuries. There are story houses, small palaces, which occupies square blocks delimited by narrow streets.
They belonged to cotton farmers and are marks of the economic prime that the city reached. Most of the houses had an area for commerce, usually
located in the ground floor.
From the 17th century, portugueses began to cover the houses with glazed tiles to
diminish the heat. The ceramic pieces were hand painted and usually had details in high relief. São Luís earned fountains with drinkable water
and sewers in 1755 and, from 1780, there was a complete urbanization in the city, with the construction of public squares.
The economic prosperity lasted about one century, until the slavery abolishment and
the USA restarted to produce. Agricultura gave place to the textile industry, which found inexpensive workers and raw material. About 30 factories
were opened in the city, but didn’t last long.
During the 20th century, Maranhão went on a period of economic stagnation,
especially from the 30’s, what, in part, contributed to the preservation of the historic patrimony. Besides being protected by Instituto do
Patrimônio Histórico e Artístico Nacional (IPHAN), UNESCO considers the historic center of São Luís as Mankind’s Cultural Patrimony. |
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