Rio’s historical Valongo Wharf reopens after restoration
The Valongo Wharf archaeological site, in downtown Rio de Janeiro, will be reopened on Thursday (Nov. 23) after undergoing renovation work. The restoration of the monument cost BRL 2 million and included the installation of educational signage, exhibition panels, and railings.A world cultural heritage site recognized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) since 2017, the wharf was the main port for the disembarking of enslaved Africans in the Americas during the 18th and 19th centuries, according to Brazil’s historical and artistic heritage authority Iphan.The remains of the historical structure were discovered in 2011 during excavations for the project to revamp the city’s port district.“This memory must be preserved as a port of our histor...