In 1810, King John VI of Portugal adopted the Quinta da Boa Vista as his official residence, the Paço de São Cristóvão.

He was deposed by a military coup on November 15, 1889 and the Quinta da Boa Vista became a museum in 1893.

The neighbourhood is widely known for being the host of a significant Portuguese diasporic community, especially alongside the zones of Rua São Cristóvão, Euclides da Cunha, and Fonseca Telles.

The club's stadium, Estádio Figueira de Melo, commonly known by its nickname Figueirinha, is also located in the neighborhood.

The former National Museum, its former library and the zoological garden of Rio de Janeiro are located in the Quinta da Boa Vista park.