Brazilian institutions repurpose former prisons for tourism and education

Various Brazilian locations are transforming former penal complexes into sites for historical preservation, tourism, and academic research.

In Ilha Grande, Rio de Janeiro, the territory that once housed a prison for decades has evolved into a destination for nature tourism and scientific research. Following the closure of the Cândido Mendes Penal Institute in 1994, the area was transitioned to the State University of Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), which established the Ilha Grande Ecomuseum in 2001. The site now features the Prison Museum to preserve the memory of the former penitentiary alongside the protected Atlantic Forest.

In Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, the State University of Rio Grande do Norte (Uern) is launching a guided tour of the former João Chaves Penitentiary, historically known as ‘Caldeirão do Diabo’. The tour, developed through a decade of research, allows visitors to see preserved structures such as cell walls, watchtowers, and original water tanks. The initiative aims to document the transformation of the site from a high-security prison into a university campus.