Teenagers sheltered by SMAS get a history lesson on Fiscal Island.

The "Bridges to the Future" project takes children to the past during a visit to the site of the last ball of the Empire. Photo: Mariana Rocha / SMAS

Teenagers from three foster care units run by the Municipal Secretariat of Social Assistance (SMAS) in Rio de Janeiro connected with Brazilian history and learned about the transition from monarchy to republic in one of the most iconic locations from the Imperial era. A two-hour tour of Ilha Fiscal, in Guanabara Bay, organized by the Bridges to the Future Project, with support from the Navy, which owns the space, brought together, on Tuesday afternoon (June 2nd), about 20 boys, aged between 12 and 17, from the Social Reintegration Units (URS) Paulo Freire, in Campo Grande, in the West Zone; Dom Hélder Câmara, in the Center; and Angélica Goulart, in Del Castilho, North Zone.

The boys were greeted by a female officer and a guide from the Navy, who welcomed them and took them on a tour of the island, famous for having hosted the "Last Ball of the Empire" on November 9, 1889, just six days before the proclamation of the republic by Marshal Deodoro da Fonseca. The children heard stories from that time and learned about the route taken by tourists.

The first attraction was the neo-Gothic castle, a small palace with a spiral staircase, towers, and stained-glass windows, designed at the request of the then-Emperor Dom Pedro II. At the Torreão, the castle's highest point, offering a breathtaking view of the beautiful Guanabara Bay, some children had fun locating the Rio-Niterói Bridge and the Museum of Tomorrow in the landscape. The comings and goings of airplanes and their low-level flights as they approached Santos Dumont Airport also attracted considerable attention.

'Stumble, but don't fall'

In the Grand Hall, where the fateful ball took place, the SMAS guests listened to waltzes that provided the soundtrack to that day's gala festivities and learned that, according to legend, Dom Pedro II, upon entering the building and tripping, was wrong in his prediction when he jokingly said that the monarchy "stumbles, but doesn't fall." There was laughter when the guide recounted this part. Finally, the group lined up to see the "galleota of Dom João VI," a rowing vessel used by the Royal Family.

– A visit like this has a great impact, not only for the boys, but also for the social educators who work with them. It's an opportunity to learn about history in a place where history happened. We are very grateful to the Brazilian Navy for opening its doors to us – commented Guilherme Nanni, coordinator of the Bridges to the Future program.

About Bridges to the Future

Created in March 2025, the project takes users of the Rio de Janeiro City Hall's social assistance network on outings and visits that promote learning, strengthen self-esteem, and seek to provide a sense of belonging. To date, there have been 68 events, with nearly 1.500 participants from those assisted by the network. The places visited are museums, football stadiums, tourist attractions, and places of historical and cultural value that, in most cases, would be inaccessible to this population due to their social vulnerability.