Centro, the oldest neighbourhood in Rio, is where the vestiges of the city's past are concentrated. Whether it be the imperial palace and the Baroque churches of Praça XV or the theatre and museums of Cinelândia, there is no shortage of culture. The ..

Behind the elegant and restrained façade of this church, which was built on top of a hill, there is an astonishing Baroque interior. It is truly magnificent, boasting walls which are entirely covered with gilded wood ornamentation, marble flooring an..

Thanks to recent attempts to modernise the area, and the arrival of bars, restaurants and museums, the Praça XV, located in the heart of Centro, has become something of a draw for Cariocas. The trees growing there imbue it with a unique atmosphere. A..

The Imperial Palace stands at the heart of the Praça XV. Now one of the city's foremost cultural centres, it holds temporary exhibitions of painting and sculpture and has its own cinema. Built in the 18C, this palace with colonial architecture is ful..

Located close to the Praça João Paulo, the National History Museum has an impressive collection which will delight anyone interested in Brazil's history: paintings, imperial carriages, Pedro II's throne, and even the goose feather Isabel used to sign..

The Santo Antônio Monastery, located on an esplanade overlooking the Largo da Carioca, attracts admiring stares from all sides. But it is the inside of the complex that is really worth seeing. Have a look inside the church, which is one of the most r..

At the entrance to this church is a small museum housing the statues of saints that are borne through the streets in the Ash Wednesday procession, of which the most remarkable is a St Louis dressed up as Louis XIII! The church's exuberant gilded wood..

It's no coincidence if the Theatro Municipal reminds you of Paris' Opera Garnier. The architects took inspiration from the French opera house and had all the materials needed for its construction imported from Europe in 1905. The opening was even hel..

This church, a beautiful little example of colonial architecture, stands in the heart of the Glória district, which was highly coveted in the 19C when Rio was the federal capital. The Igreja de N. S. da Glória do Outeiro (1739) was one of the first c..

The Corvocado, a 710m-high granite peak situated in the Parque Nacional da Tijuca, is a site not to be missed. To get there it's best to take the rack railway (departing from Rua Cosme Velha), which passes through the largest urban forest in the worl..

The statue of Christ the Redeemer, which looks out over Rio from atop Corcovado, has become the universal emblem of the city. Designed by Heitor da Silva Costa and Paul Landowski in 1922 in response to a competition set to mark Brazil's centenary (19..

Sugarloaf Mountain, the rocky peak named after the shape of its outline, but also after the approximate translation of the name given to it by the Indians ( Pau-nd-Acuqua , "pointed and isolated promontory"), affords an uninterrupted view o..

Play beach volleyball or football, drink a coco gelado (fresh coconut juice) or build a sandcastle - there is no end of activities on Copacabana beach! You will need to keep an eye out for pickpockets, however. The district is as lively as ever and..

The Jardim Bôtanico is home to countless tropical species: royal palms, giant bamboos, medicinal plants, the famous Pau-Brasil etc. If you look closely, you will notice toucans flying from tree to tree. It's a very pleasant place for a stroll, far ..

The achievements of the great landscape architect Roberto Burle Marx include the Parque do Flamengo, the grounds of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Brasília, and the famous pavement designs in Copacabana. His property comprises his house, an immen..

Rocky peaks, waterfalls, wild animals and tropical species await you at the Parque Nacional da Tijuca, the world's largest urban forest (32km 2 ), situated in the heart of Rio. Make sure you see the Pico da Ticuja (1012m), the Capela Mayrink, the Vis..

The Costa Verde is worthy of its name. A natural wonder located between Rio and São Paulo, the mountainsides plunge down into the blue-green waters of the ocean. Bays and islands starting close to the mainland follow one after the other, with the lan..

Off the Costa Verde is the Ilha Grande, a well-preserved little slice of paradise with lush vegetation and turquoise waters. Perhaps the island has been spared the attention of property developers due to its largely uninteresting history. In high sea..

Before heading for the south coast of the island, make sure you cover up, bring along plenty of water and let your hotel know where you are planning to go. These precautions out of the way, you can enjoy the tranquility and untamed beauty of the coas..

In Paraty's Centro histórico the electric cables barely detract from the combined charm of the tiled-roof houses and white-washed churches. In places the high tide floods the cobblestones, which residents claim gives them a good clean. After night fa..