As a non-profit international organization dedicated to promoting collaboration between ports and cities, analyzing and interpreting the dynamics of their relationships, exploring new horizons, and drawing visions and strategies to build their future, RETE highlights the ambitious revitalization project currently underway in the city of Santos, Brazil.

After more than 30 years of abandonment, the historic Valongo Area (Área do Valongo) is undergoing an unprecedented transformation process that will redefine the city’s waterfront and its relationship with the community.

A Shared Governance Model

The success of this transformation lies in a collaborative management model. All the projects and lands involved are being jointly managed by:

  • The City Council of Santos.

  • The Santos Port Authority.

  • Private port operators.

This strategic alliance ensures that the development responds to both the logistical and tourism needs of the port, as well as the social and urban demands of the city.

Milestones of the Valongo Park Revitalization

The project is already showing tangible results that open the port to citizens, highlighting the recovery of old infrastructures for new community and business uses:

  • New spaces for meeting and development: The launch of Armazém 4 (Warehouse 4) as a major events center and Armazém 7, conceived as a modern Innovation Hub.

  • Urban connectivity: The inauguration of the Passarela Porto-Cidade Eng. José Colla (Port-City Pedestrian Bridge), which facilitates pedestrian and symbolic transit between the urban fabric and the waterfront, overcoming old railway and industrial barriers.

  • Heritage recovery: The restoration of historical structures such as Armazém 3 and the Casa de Pedra (Stone House, the former headquarters of the Companhia Docas de Santos), returning them to their original splendor for public purposes.

The Immediate Future: A 3-Year Horizon

The President of the Port Authority has confirmed that the next three years will be decisive for the consolidation of Valongo Park. The most notable actions include:

  • Revitalization of Warehouses 1 and 2: These spaces will be transformed into dynamic areas dedicated to gastronomy and leisure, fully integrated into the urban landscape.

  • New Cruise Terminal (Concais S.A.): The passenger terminal will be relocated to the vicinity of Valongo Park. As part of this integrative design, Warehouse 1 will become part of the cruise terminal’s own facilities.

The Santos project represents a paradigmatic example of the dynamics that RETE promotes internationally: transforming obsolete industrial areas into living spaces, generating wealth and innovation, and above all, returning the sea to the citizens.