Although Rio de Janeiro is one of the most popular destinations in Brazil, I had never been there before. I think maybe, as it happens in many places in the world, here there is also a certain rivalry between those who were born in São Paulo ("paulistas") and those who were born in Rio ("cariocas"). Me, as a good "paulista", thought that there was a lot to explore in São Paulo before going to Rio. However, I won't deny that Rio is really a wonderful city with many beautiful things to see and enjoy! And I regret not visiting it before.
One of the Brazilian friends I made in Vietnam was back in Brazil and living in Rio. When I finished the cancer treatment, I decided to take a break and do what I love most: travel! And I ended up buying a five-day trip there. The time was short to see everything, but I had plenty of time to enjoy it!
All my adventures in Rio I will share here, in my Travel feed blog.
Rio de Janeiro beyond the beaches
When we talk about Rio de Janeiro, most people think of beaches, Copacabana, caipirinha and samba schools. However, Rio is much more than that. From 1763 to 1960, Rio was the capital of Brazil. Precisely for this reason, numerous buildings that are icons of Brazilian history and architecture are located there.
One of these places that holds a lot of history and exuberant nature is precisely Parque Lage. It is a super quiet place for those who want to meditate, for those who like hiking, and also for those who love a cup of coffee or a super breakfast with a view! Parque Lage is the ideal place to take a break. Surrounded by nature, it is undoubtedly an invitation to disconnect.
About Parque Lage
Parque Lage is located in the southern part of Rio, near two other well-known tourist attractions: Christ the Redeemer and the Botanical Garden. Inside the park, there is a trail through the woods that goes to the Christ (the famous "Corcovado trail"). I didn't take it this time, but who knows in the future time?
I loved that the entrance is free, unlike the Botanical Garden. So, if you have to choose one of the two to visit, stay with Parque Lage.
In the middle of the 16th century, Parque Lage was part of a sugar mill. Later, in the 19th century, it became the residence of some aristocrats. Henrique Lage was the last owner and he remodeled the place. It is said that this change was made to impress his wife, an Italian opera singer.
He wanted to create a kind of park inspired by the gardens of England. Henrique Lage was responsible for building an aquarium and an artificial grotto on the site.
Mr. Lage, however, got into debt and as a result, had to get rid of the area. In 1957 Parque Lage officially became a park open to visitors.
Today the Parque is home to the Escola de Artes Visuais do Rio (Rio's School of Visual Arts), which is why it is very popular with young people.
The palace
Within the park there are a number of walking paths, however, the palace is the highlight. Most tourists go there just to take a picture or have a fancy breakfast, but very expensive!
My friend and I tried to show off by having the breakfast of kings. However, the line was so long that we gave up. It is also possible to have a picnic in the garden in front of the palace. It is not as fancy, but I found it much nicer to be honest.
Yes, the palace is very beautiful and worth the visit. There is no control or ticket to visit, but if you want to see the terrace, you will need to pay R$10.00, about US $2.00.
In the background of the Palacete, you can also see the famous statue of Christ. This is another reason why the place is also very popular with tourists.
Nature
Parque Lage has about 174,000 square meters of nature! That's quite a lot! It is part of the Tijuca Forest, one of the main Atlantic Forest reserves in Rio. For those who like tropical vegetation, Parque Lage is sensational. Imperial palms and trees of gigantic proportions are everywhere.
It is also possible to find some monkeys and super colorful Brazilian birds.
Despite not being among the most popular destinations in Rio, Parque Lage was one of the places I liked the most. Inside, amidst so much nature, it gives you incredible peace! Ideal for those who need to take an invigorating forest bath! I recommend it!
I hope you enjoyed it and I'll be back with more posts about Rio!