Pereira Passos

Pereira Passos was a Brazilian engineer and politician known for transforming Rio de Janeiro in the early 20th century. As mayor from 1903 to 1906, he undertook large-scale urban reforms, modernizing the city’s infrastructure. This included widening streets, improving sanitation, introducing new sewer systems, and creating parks. His efforts aimed to make Rio more organized, healthier, and visually appealing, aligning it with modern city standards. While these changes helped modernize Rio, they also significantly altered the city’s historic neighborhoods and faced some social resistance.