44-year-old Marcio Mizael Matolias has made a name for himself over the past 22 years by building incredible sandcastles on Barra de Tijuca, one of Rio de Janeiro’s most exclusive neighborhoods. The best part? He’s been living inside the castles all this time, wearing a plastic crown on his head—which has earned him the charming nickname ‘King Marcio.’ Well, if living in a castle and wearing a crown doesn’t make you a king, I don’t know what will.
Filipe Costa / | © Culture Trip
A hospitable sandcastle
The castle sports a small, three-square-meter (32-square-foot) basement of sorts, supported by driftwood walls and beams, where Matolias lives. Inside the small room there lie endless towers of books, showcasing his love for the written word—in fact, he first got interested in building when a friend of his reportedly gave him a book on Spanish architect Antoni Gaudi. His other hobbies include playing golf and fishing.
As you would expect, sandcastles require a lot of upkeep in order to maintain in good condition. The Sand King needs to water the walls and turrets constantly to preserve its structural integrity, which stops it from crumbling under the tough tropical conditions of the region.
Filipe Costa / | © Culture Trip
But even then, every once in a while, the castle is destroyed by the powerful storms that inevitably strike the coast. So the King often needs to rebuild it almost from scratch—and he does so gladly. He’s become proficient at castle-building and has perfected his craft over the years to the point of near-perfection. Now, even local malls hire him to build decorative sand structures to display at their stores.
Living like a king
That’s not all Matolias does to earn a living, though. His love of books has led him to collect and sell second-hand copies over the years, which has given him a modest income to buy enough food. It also helps greatly that, by living on the beach, he avoids paying rent—an unparalleled privilege given he gets to live in one of the city’s most expensive areas.
Filipe Costa / | © Culture Trip
Over time, the self-styled monarch has acquired a local celebrity status, as tourists line up to take pictures with him and his sand pieces. He lets adult and children alike sit on his “throne” (a makeshift chair lying in front of the castle) and happily poses for them. Donations serve as an additional source of income for the modest king.
Photo from @drixpaiva, via Instagram
Originally, Matolias planned on using the castle only to store his book collection—with every intention to break Marie Kondo’s 30-book rule in the process, of course—, but the living arrangement there turned out to be so surprisingly convenient for his lifestyle, he couldn’t pass it up. The only downside to it, by the King’s own admission, is the unbearable summer heat—which soars to over 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit), further exacerbated by the fact that the sand walls holds it in. Some nights, sleeping becomes impossible, so he often needs to stay at a friend’s during the hottest days of the year.
Filipe Costa / | © Culture Trip
None of that deters him, however, as he claims he is not interested in any other kind of life. So, fortunately for everyone, the Sand King doesn’t plan to give up his crown just yet.
(Cover photo by Filipe Costa / Culture Trip)
Your voice matters!
Are you an expert on culture and history? Do you know any interesting stories like this one? Read our submissions guidelines and send us a 500-word article to storyteller@culturacolectiva.com for a chance to share your thoughts with the rest of the world!
Don’t miss these other articles!
The Visionary Who Shaped The Way We Think About Science Fiction
The Scary Mystery Of The Indian Temple Vault No One Can Open
Akampene: The Punishment Island Where Pregnant Women Were Left To Die
