Sights in Rio De Janeiro
-
A
Cristo Redentor
One of Rio’s most identifiable landmarks, the magnificent 38m-high Cristo Redentor (Christ the Redeemer) looms large atop Corcovado. From here, the statue – all 1145 tons of him – has stunning views over Rio (which explains the contented expression on his face). Corcovado, which means ‘hunchback, ’ rises straight up from the city to a height of 710m, and at night, the brightly lit statue is visible from nearly every part of the city. When you reach the top, you’ll notice the Redeemer’s gaze directed at Pão de Açúcar, with his left arm pointing toward the Zona Norte, and Maracanã football stadium crowding the foreground. You can also see the international …
-
B
Pão de Açúcar
One of Rio’s dazzling icons, Pão de Açúcar (Sugarloaf) offers a vision of Rio at its most disarming. Following a steep ascent up the mountain, you’ll be rewarded with superb views of Rio’s gorgeous shoreline, and the city planted among the green peaks. For prime views of the cidade maravilhosa, go around sunset on a clear day. Everyone must go to Pão de Açúcar, but if you can, avoid it from about 10am to 11am and 2pm to 3pm, which is when most tourist buses arrive. Avoid cloudy days as well. To reach the summit, 395m above Rio and the Baía de Guanabara, you take two cable cars. The first ascends 215m to Morro da Urca. From here, you can see Baía de Guanabara and …
-
C
Maracanã Football Stadium
Brazil’s temple of soccer easily accommodates more than 100,000 people. On certain occasions, such as the World Cup match of 1950 or Pelé’s last game, it has squeezed in close to 200,000 crazed fans – although it’s now been modified to hold fewer. If you like sports, if you want to understand Brazil, or if you just want an intense, quasi-psychedelic experience, then by all means go see a game of futebol – preferably a championship game or one between local rivals Flamengo, Vasco, Fluminense or Botafogo. There’s a sports museum (open 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday) inside the stadium. It has photographs, posters, cups and the uniforms of Brazilian sporting greats, …
-
D
Ipanema Beach
Although the beaches of Ipanema and Leblon are one long beach, the postos (posts) along them subdivide the beach into areas as diverse as the city itself. Posto 9, right off Rua Vinícius de Moraes, is Garota de Ipanema, which is where Rio's most lithe and tanned bodies tend to migrate. The area is also known as the Cemetério dos Elefantes because of the handful of old leftists, hippies and artists who sometimes hang out there.
In front of Rua Farme de Amoedo the beach is known as Bolsa de Valores or Crystal Palace (this is the gay section), while posto 8 further up is mostly the domain of favela kids. Arpoador, between Ipanema and Copacabana, is Rio's most popular surf …
-
E
Catedral Metropolitana
The enormous cone-shaped cathedral was inaugurated in 1976 after 12 years of construction. Among its sculptures, murals and other works of art, the four vivid stained-glass windows, which stretch 60m to the ceiling, are breathtaking. The Museu de Arte Sacra (Museum of Sacred Art) in the basement contains a number of historical items, including the baptismal font used at the christening of royal princes and the throne of Dom Pedro II. The cathedral can accommodate up to 20,000 worshippers.
-
F
Copacabana Beach
A magnificent confluence of land and sea, the long, scalloped beach of Copacabana and Leme runs for 4km, with a flurry of activity always stretching along its length: over-amped soccer players singing their team's anthem, Cariocas and tourists lining up for caipirinhas at kiosks, favela kids showing off their soccer skills, beach vendors shouting out their wares among the beached and tanned bodies.
As in Ipanema, each group stakes out their stretch of sand. Leme is a mix of older residents and favela kids, while the area between the Copacabana Palace Hotel and Rua Fernando Mendes is the gay and transvestite section, known as the Stock or Stock Market - easily recognized b…
-
G
Arcos da Lapa
The landmark aqueduct dates from the mid-1700s when it was built to carry water from the Carioca River to downtown Rio. In a style reminiscent of ancient Rome, the 42 arches stand 64m high. Today, it carries the famous bonde on its way to and from Santa Teresa atop the hill.
-
H
Biblioteca Nacional
Inaugurated in 1910, the national library is the largest in Latin America, with more than 8 million volumes. It was designed by Francisco Marcelino de Souza Aguiar. On the ground floor, the periodical section is to the left, and general works are to the right. On the 2nd floor are many rare books and manuscripts, including two copies of the precious Mainz Psalter Bible, printed in 1492. Owing to their fragility, most of these rare books can be viewed only on microfilm.
-
I
Centro
Rio's bustling commercial district, Centro is a blend of high-rise office buildings with remnants of its grand past still present in looming baroque churches, wide plazas and cobblestone streets.
-
J
Centro Cultural Banco Do Brasil
Reopened in 1989, the Centro Cultural Banco do Brasil (CCBB) is housed in a beautifully restored 1906 building. It’s one of Brazil’s best cultural centers, with more than 120,000 visitors per month. Facilities include a cinema, two theaters and a permanent display of the evolution of currency in Brazil. CCBB hosts excellent exhibitions that are among the city’s best. A recent display of African art garnered international attention. There is always something going on at the Centro Cultural Banco do Brasil, from exhibitions, lunchtime and evening concerts, to film screenings, so look at O Globo’ s entertainment listings before you go. Don’t miss this place, even if …
Advertisement
-
K
Rio Water Planet
Rio Water Planet claims to be the biggest aquatic park in Latin America. Waterfalls, artificial beaches (a bit surprising in this part of the world) and lazy rafting rivers are part of the attractions, as are Rio Kart Planet (an open-air kart track), Rio Show Planet (an area for shows) and Rio Circus Planet.
-
L
Bosque da Barra
Covering 500,000 sq meters of salt-marsh vegetation, the park provides a refuge and breeding area for many small birds and animals. The woods have a jogging track and bicycle path.
-
M
Museu de Arte Moderna
At the northern end of Parque do Flamengo, the Museu de Arte Moderna (MAM) is immediately recognizable by the striking postmodern edifice designed by Alfonso Eduardo Reidy. The landscaping of Burle Marx is no less impressive. After a devastating fire in 1978 that consumed 90% of its collection, the Museu de Arte Moderna is finally back on its feet, and now houses 11,000 permanent works, including pieces by Brazilian artists Bruno Giorgi, Di Cavalcanti and Maria Martins. Curators often bring excellent photography and design exhibits to the museum, and the cinema hosts regular film festivals throughout the year.
-
N
Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas
One of the city's most picturesque spots, Lagoa has 7.2km of cycling/walking path around the lake. Bikes are available for hire near Parque Brigadeiro Faria Lima. There's also a helipad on the shoreline for those who want a bird's eye of the cidade maravilhosa. It may sound cheesy, but hiring a paddle boat is another way to enjoy the lake, especially when the Christmas tree is lit up across the water.
Boat rental is available on the lake's east side in Parque do Cantagalo, December through early January. For those who prefer caipirinhas to plastic swan boats, the kiosks in Parque dos Patins offer lakeside dining al fresco, often accompanied by live forró (traditional mus…
-
O
Praia da Barra da Tijuca
The best thing about Barra is the beach. It’s 12km long, with the lovely blue sea lapping at the shore. The first few kilometers of the eastern end of the beach are filled with bars and seafood restaurants. The young and hip hang out in front of barraca No 1 – also known as the barraca do Pepê, after the famous Carioca hang-gliding champion who died during a competition in Japan in 1991. The further out you go, the more deserted it gets, and the stalls turn into trailers. It’s calm on weekdays and crazy on hot summer weekends.
-
P
Parque Lage
This beautiful park, at the base of Parque Nacional da Tijuca, is about 1km from Jardim Botânico. It has English-style gardens, little lakes and a mansion that now houses the Instituto Nacional de Belas Artes, which often hosts art exhibitions and occasional performances. The park is a tranquil place and particularly popular on weekends when the Café du Lage whips up a delightful brunch. Native Atlantic rain forest surrounds Parque Lage. This is the starting point for challenging hikes up Corcovado (best to go with a guide).
-
Q
Ilha Fiscal
This eye-catching lime-green, neo-Gothic palace sitting in the Baía de Guanabara looks like something out of a child’s fairy- tale book. It was designed by engineer Adolfo del Vecchio and completed in 1889. Originally used to supervise port operations, the palace is famous as the location of the last Imperial Ball on 9 November 1889. Today it’s open for guided tours three times a day from Thursday to Sunday; tours leave from the dock near Praça Quinze (usually by boat, but sometimes by van).
-
R
Campo de Santana
Campo de Santana is a pleasant park that, on 7 September 1822, was the scene of the proclamation of Brazil’s independence from Portugal by Emperor Dom Pedro I of Portugal. The landscaped park with an artificial lake and swans is a fine place for a respite from the chaotic streets, and you’re liable to see a few agoutis (a hamster-like rodent native to Brazil) running wild here.
-
S
Leblon Beach
Leblon attracts a broad mix of single Cariocas, as well as families from the neighborhood. Posto 10 is for sport lovers, with ongoing volleyball, soccer and frescobal (played with wooden racquets and a rubber ball) games. There's also Baixo Bebê, between posts 11 and 12, where affluent parents with children migrate.
-
T
Forte de Copacabana
Built in 1914 on the promontory of the old Our Lady of Copacabana chapel, the fort of Copacabana was one of Rio’s premier defenses against attack. You can still see its original features, including walls up to 12m thick, defended by Krupp cannons. Inside is a museum with several floors of exhibits tracing the early days of the Portuguese colony to the mid-19th-century, the exhibits aren’t the most tastefully done, but the view alone is worth a visit. Be sure to stop in the beautifully sited Confeitaria Colombo.
Advertisement
-
U
Terra Encantada
The Enchanted Land is a large amusement park in Barra. It includes Cabhum (a 64m, 100km/h free fall), Ressaca (a toboggan ride that goes over a waterfall) and many other rides.
-
V
Museu Amsterdam Sauer
Next door to Museu H Stern, the Amsterdam Sauer Museum houses an impressive collection of precious stones – over 3000 items in all. Visitors can also take a peek at the two life-sized replicas of mines.
-
W
Theatro Municipal
Built in 1905 in the style of the Paris Opera, the magnificent Municipal Theater is the home of Rio’s opera, orchestra and ballet. Its lavish interior contains many beautiful details – including the stage curtain painted by Italian artist Eliseu Visconti, which contains portraits of 75 major figures from the arts: Carlos Gomes, Wagner and Rembrandt among others. Guided tours are a good way to see the theater, call 2299 1667 to book one. If you get a chance, come to a performance here.
-
X
Casa de Benjamin Constant
This country estate served as the residence for one of Brazil’s most influential politicians in the founding of the young republic. Benjamin Constant (1837–91) was an engineer, military officer and professor before taking an active role in the Provisional Government. He is also remembered for founding a school for blind children. Painstakingly preserved, his house provides a window into his life and times. The lush gardens surrounding his estate provide a fine view over Centro and the western side of Santa Teresa.
-
Y
Instituto Moreira Salles
This beautiful cultural center is next to the Parque da Cidade and contains an archive of more than 80,000 photographs, many portraying old streets of Rio as well as the urban development of other Brazilian cities over the last two centuries. It also hosts impressive exhibitions, often showcasing the works of some of Brazil’s best photographers and artists. Check its website for details of what’s on when you’re in town. The gardens, complete with artificial lake and flowing river, were designed by Brazilian landscape architect Burle Marx. There’s also a craft shop and a quaint café that serves lunch or afternoon tea.
