Rio de Janeiro Sights

  1. 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.

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  2. Arte-Sesc Cultural Center

    This small cultural center is housed in an early-20th-century mansion built by Czech entrepreneur Frederico Figner. His record company is better known than he is - Odeon records being one of the top labels in the country. The small gallery features good exhibits, often highlighting Rio's development in the early 20th century. Downstairs is the excellent Senac Bistrô.

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  3. 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.

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  4. 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.

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  5. 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.

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  6. 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. Lush gardens surrounding his estate provide fine views over Centro and Santa Teresa.

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  7. Casa do Pontal

    Owned by French designer Jacques Van de Beuque, this impressive collection of over 5000 pieces is one of the best folk-art collections in Brazil. The assorted artifacts are grouped according to themes, including music, Carnaval, religion and folklore. The grounds of the museum are surrounded by lush vegetation, which alone makes it worth the trip out here.

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  8. Casa França-Brasil

    In a neoclassical building dating from 1820, the Casa França-Brasil opened in 1990 for the purpose of advancing cultural relations between France and Brazil. The main hall features changing exhibitions often dealing with political and cultural facets of Carioca society. The building is considered the most important classical revival structure in Brazil, and once served as a customs house.

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  9. 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.

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  10. 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.

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  11. Centro Cultural Justiça Federal

    The stately building overlooking the Praça Floriano served as the headquarters of the Supreme Court (Supremo Tribunal Federal) from 1909 to 1960. Following its recent restoration, it's become the Federal Justice Cultural Center, featuring exhibitions focused above all on photography and Brazilian art, though some fascinating exhibits from abroad sometimes make their way here. The store on the 1st floor has a tiny selection of books and handicrafts.

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  12. Centro de Arte Hélio Oiticica

    This avant-garde museum is set in a 19th-century neoclassical building that originally housed the Conservatory of Music and Dramatic Arts. Today, the center displays permanent works by the artist, theoretician and poet Hélio Oiticica, as well as bold contemporary art exhibitions, well-tuned to Oiticica's forward-leaning aesthetics. In addition to six exhibition galleries, there's a bistro and a book shop on the first floor.

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  13. 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.

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  14. 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.

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  15. Escadaria Selarón

    An ever-expanding installation, the staircase leading up to the Convento de Santa Teresa from Rua Joaquim Silva became a work of art when Chilean-born artist Selarón decided to cover the steps with colorful mosaics. Originally a homage to the Brazilian people, the 215 steps feature ceramic mosaics in green, yellow and blue. He uses mirrors as well as tiles collected from around the world to create the illustrious effects. A hand-painted sign in English and Portuguese explains Selarón's vision. Recently, Selarón has expanded his artistry to include mosaics near the Arcos da Lapa.

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  16. Espaço Cultural da Marinha

    Naval enthusiasts should visit this open museum on the waterfront near the eastern end of Av Presidente Vargas. It contains the Riachuelo submarine, which you can wander through, the Bauru (a WWII torpedo boat) and the royal family's large rowboat. The boat tour to Ilha Fiscal leaves from the docks here.

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  17. Feira Nordestina

    This enormous fair (32,000 sq meters with 658 stalls) is not to be missed. The fair showcases the culture from the northeast, with barracas (food stalls) selling Bahian dishes as well as beer and cachaça (cane liquor), which flows in great abundance here. Bands play throughout the weekend - accordion, guitar and tambourine players performing forró, samba groups and comedy troupes, MPB and rodas de capoeira ( capoeira circles).

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  18. 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 there 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.

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  19. Fundação Eva Klabin Rapaport

    An old mansion full of antiques, the former residence of Eva Klabin Rapaport houses the works of art she collected for 60 years. Reflecting Eva's diverse interests, the collection has 1100 pieces from ancient Egypt, Greece and China. Paintings, sculptures, silver, furniture and carpets are also on display.

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  20. Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Glória do Outeiro

    This tiny church atop Ladeira da Glória commands lovely views out over Parque do Flamengo and the bay. Considered one of the finest examples of religious colonial architecture in Brazil, the church dates from 1739 and became the favorite of the royal family upon their arrival in 1808.

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  21. Igreja de Nossa Senhora de Candelária

    The construction of the original church (dating from the late 16th century) on the present site was credited to a ship's captain who had nearly been shipwrecked at sea. Upon his safe return he vowed to build a church to NS de Candelária. A later design led to its present-day grandeur. Built between 1775 and 1894, NS de Candelária was the largest and wealthiest church of imperial Brazil.

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  22. Igreja São Francisco da Penitência & Convento Santo Antônio

    Overlooking the Largo da Carioca is the baroque Igreja São Francisco da Penitência, dating from 1726. Recently restored to its former glory, the church's sacristy, which dates from 1745, has blue Portuguese tiles and an elaborately carved altar made out of jacaranda wood. It also has a roof panel by José Oliveira Rosa depicting St Francis receiving the stigmata. The church's statue of Santo Antônio is an object of great devotion to many Cariocas in search of a husband or wife.

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  23. Ilha de Paquetá

    This tropical island in the Baía de Guanabara was once a very popular tourist spot and is now frequented mostly by families from the Zona Norte. There are no cars on the island. Transport is by foot, bicycle (with literally hundreds for rent) or horse-drawn cart. There's a certain dirty, decadent charm to the colonial buildings, unassuming beaches and businesses catering to local tourism. The place gets crowded at weekends.

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  24. 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).

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  25. 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.

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