| Rio
de Janeiro's attractions are not limited simply to the
gifts of Mother Nature. Even as it celebrates its five-hundredth
birthday, Rio de Janeiro continues to preserve monuments
to its past, be they architectural, artistic or in landscaping,
each with a story to tell.
Shoppers with a sense of history and adventure will
enjoy the SAARA; far from the desert it sounds, it is
a teeming bazaar, selling clothing and exotic foodstuffs
at knockdown prices. Another example, the Praça
da República, represents the best in French landscaping;
from the square the art deco style of the central train
station can be admired.
In
the heart of downtown Rio de Janeiro, Praça Quinze
retains many tangible reminders of significant moments
in the country's history and development. The arrival
of the Portuguese royal family is remembered through
the Viceroy's Palace, the first royal residence in Rio
de Janeiro.
Looking out across the water, the neo-Gothic castle
on the Ilha Fiscal can be seen; the sumptuousness of
the last Imperial ball held there can only be imagined.
Imperial Rio is perfectly preserved in the buildings
surrounding the Arco do Teles and the Carmo church and
convent, living and functioning reminders of the past.
On the waterfront, people can be seen running to catch
a boat from the ferry stations linking Rio to the city
of Niterói, the Ilha do Governador Island and
Paquetá Island.
A stone's throw away, a cultural triangle is formed
by the Centro Cultural Banco do Brasil, the Casa França
Brasil and the Espaço Cultural dos Correios;
all house fine temporary exhibitions, ranging from the
historic to the contemporary in all manner of artistic
output. Adjacent is the imposing church of Nossa Senhora
da Candelária, a happy amalgam of baroque and
neo-classical styles.
A little further along is the city's most treasured
pearl: the Mosteiro de São Bento. This monastery's
construction began in the 16th century, and was concluded
in the 17th century. Predominantly baroque in style,
the gold-leaf richness of its internal decoration contrasts
markedly with its austere exterior. Sunday Mass is sung
in Gregorian chant at the monastery, and draws crowds.
On a more practical level, there are some excellent
restaurants in this downtown area.
Sugar
Loaf
Tijuca
Forest
Rio
The
Botanical Gardens (Jardim Botánico) |
