It is one of the most beautiful sightseeing tours that I offer and that I realize. To discover the historic center of Rio de Janeiro, you have to know all the alleys of the famous neighborhoods; Lapa and Santa Teresa. Not a simple matter, make no mistake about it, these districts are surrounded by favelas, only a guide who knows his place perfectly can guide you in complete safety. The center is large, and to navigate from one place to another, the only solution is to move on foot. My exclusive tour, which I have been tweaking for years, is about 11 km. Let's see all the points of discovery that I offer you.
My visit starts at Cinelandia Square, right in front of the Municipal Theater. Well no, you are not dreaming, we are not in Paris but in Rio de Janeiro.
Opened in 1909, the Municipal Theater is one of the main theaters in Brazil and Latin America. During the last renovation, precious objects were found, such as a large original panel by the Italian Eliseu Visconti, which were saved. Significant areas of the Theater have been restored, highlighting the imposing 350 kg eagle that adorns the top of the building, which has received 8,000 sheets of 23-karat gold gilding.
We continue the visit, we head towards the Lapa district.
The famous Lapa Arches (Arcos da Lapa) have been part of Rio de Janeiro's history, since the colonial period.
The ancient aqueduct of Carioca, known as Arcos da Lapa, is one of the city's postcards, besides being the most representative symbol of the Rio Antigo preserved in the Bohemian region of Lapa. The structure, in mortar stone, presents a Romanesque style, whitewashed in whitewash, with 42 double arches and windows in the upper part. The Arcos da Lapa are considered the largest architectural work undertaken in Brazil during the colonial period.
The Selarón staircase, is an ascending public road located between the districts of Santa Teresa and Lapa.
The staircase has the particularity of being adorned, along its entire length, with more than 2,000 earthenware tiles from 120 different countries. Made for the 1994 Football World Cup, the staircase is a work of Chilean artist Jorge Selarón (1947-2013).
Arrived in Brazil in 1983 and resident of the district, he decorated several public places of Santa Teresa and Lapa.
Once at the top of the Selarón Stairs, we are in the Santa Teresa neighborhood. A high-rise neighborhood in the central area of Rio de Janeiro.
It takes its name from the Carmelite convent dedicated to Santa Teresa d'Ávila.
It flourished in the 19th century and is still of great artistic, cultural and tourist interest today.
The image of the neighborhood is strongly associated with the little electric train (Bondinho) which runs through its main axes and connects it to the center.
The Santa Teresa trams are a last living memory, one of the last vestiges of an era, a tourist attraction and a historical relic of a nostalgic means of transport.
In addition to being a tourist attraction, it is also a real means of transport for the residents of the neighborhood. Near the Largo dos Guimarães station is the Tram Museum.
Located on the slopes of Santa Teresa, Parque das Ruínas has one of the best views of Rio de Janeiro.
To fully enjoy its exceptional view, all you have to do is climb to the top of its viewpoint. From there you can contemplate the magnificent landscape of the city center and Guanabara Bay, up to the oceanic area of Niterói, and finally you can see the Flamengo, Botafogo and even Sugarloaf districts. A show !
The Parque das Ruínas cultural center was the home of the great patroness of the Belle Époque of Rio de Janeiro, Laurinda Santos Lobo. Known as the 'Marshal of Elegance', Laurinda brought together intellectuals and artists in the magnificent premises of the palace, which today is one of the finest award-winning projects by architect Ernani Freire and houses experimental works. of plastic arts. Unavoidable !
In order not to retrace our steps, we have to go down from the Santa Teresa district towards the city center towards our next place of visit. Be careful, once again, it is very complicated to move through all its streets, alleys, if you do not know them perfectly.
The San Sebastian Cathedral in Rio de Janeiro is one of the main Catholic shrines in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
An atypical building built between 1964 and 1976, it is representative of the brutalized current of modernist architecture. Its avant-garde lines are reminiscent of the pre-Columbian pyramids, a symbol of union between the old and the new world.
Saint Sebastian Cathedral (also known as the Metropolitan Cathedral) is the seat of the Catholic Archdiocese of Rio de Janeiro.
We are entering a busy area of the city center, we could call it the business center.
In the direction of Uruguaiana street which houses a popular market where you can find everything, we will take a short break.
For some, it will be the moment to taste salted snacks. Irresistible !
Over 100 years of history - Founded in 1894, Confeitaria Colombo enters the history of Rio de Janeiro.
To conclude this visit, we move to Boulevard Olympique.
The port region experienced its heyday and decline in just over a century.
From the fishing village to the main port of the country, the region was also the gateway and the habitation of slaves,
giving the region the nickname of "Little Africa", the size of the number of blacks who lived there.
Just before the 2016 Olympics, this part of central Rio de Janeiro was completely revitalized while preserving the history of this region.
From the Valongo Gardens to the Empress's Pier, including modern projects such as the Rio d'Art Moderne (MAR) and the new Museum of Tomorrow, the project has developed the region's tourist and economic potential.
Praça XV, in Rio de Janeiro, features several historic buildings. It was once called Largo do Paço because it was the center of the city during colonial times and during the Empire.
Praça Quinze de Novembro (Praça XV) is today associated with Estação das Barcas (Maritime Station). It is one of the main tourist and cultural sites of the Center.
This is the end of the visit.
The Church of Candelária (Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Candelária), is an important historical church in the city of Rio de Janeiro. It was built and decorated over a long period, from 1775 until the end of the 19th century. The church combines the baroque architecture of its facade with neoclassical architecture, with elements of neo-renaissance style inside.
