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Photo: Halley Pacheco de Oliveira, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Commissioned in 1779, this was to become the first public park in the Americas. Check out the original Rococo-style gate and the ironwork fountains.
The Passeio Público is a public park in the historic centre of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Built after 1779, it is the oldest public park of Brazil and one of the oldest in the Americas.
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Escola de Música da Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro
A good place to catch free classical music concerts. Stop by during the day for a schedule or check the newspaper for events, as the surrounding neighborhood can be a bit shady at night.
Igreja Nossa Senhora do Carmo da Lapa do Desterro
Camara Municipal do Rio de Janeiro
Hosts the city council.
Arcos da Lapa, Carioca Aqueduct
Colonial structure built in 1750 that brought water from springs to downtown.
Biblioteca Nacional
The National Library offers guided tours on weekdays, showing visitors its rare collection, various bookstacks and the catalogue system. Registration with identification is required, and tours run for about an hour. They leave at 13:00 for English tours, and 11:00, 13:00 and 15:00 for Portuguese tours.
Escadaria Selarón
A stairway covered by colorful tiles and the ever-evolving art work of Chilean artist Jorge Selarón.