The progress of the construction of Castelo do Pontal, in Recreio dos Bandeirantes, in the western zone of Rio de Janeiro, has drawn attention in recent days. The leisure complex features imposing towers and gates in medieval style and is expected to be inaugurated in July 2027. When completed, it will join other similar projects already existing in the capital and the Mountainous Region of the state.
All these castles have century-old histories, some with roots in Brazil's imperial era. One of them is Castelo São Manoel, located in the mountainous region of Rio de Janeiro state. Its history begins in the 1820s, when Dom Pedro I showed interest in the lands of Corrêas, today a district of Petrópolis, a region surrounded by the Atlantic Forest and with mild climate.
The name of the castle is a reference to Father Correia, who owned a farm in the region. The first emperor of Brazil tried to close a deal with the clergyman, although the details of this attempt are not completed in the available portion of the article.
