This Itajuru channel connects the Araruama Lagoon to the Ocean. On the south bank of this channel is the neighborhood of the Passagem. The architectural and urban complex with its traditional and simple houses is made up mainly of buildings from the 19th and 20th centuries, with one or two floors, the oldest dating back to the 18th century. Above all, the scale and harmony of the bright and airy urban ambience is remarkable, with emphasis on the 19th-century church dedicated to São Benedito. The neighborhood of Passagem, where it is located, is recognized as the oldest urban site in Cabo Frio. The denomination Passagem is due to the existence of a port on the banks of the Itajuru canal, point of embarkation and disembarkation of goods, including the traffic of slaves and brazilwood, abundant in the native forests of the region. The neighborhood was characterized by housing, throughout its history, activities related to fishing and navigation, in addition to serving as a place of residence. Stage of religious and traditional festivities, it was the birthplace of the carnival blocks that marked the presence of black culture in the place.