Rio de Janeiro: Downtown Historical District
Rio, Rio-todo, blog
Many travelers come to Rio de Janeiro and never once set foot in the historical district. The beaches and attractions in the Zona Sul are so compelling that they overwhelm other agendas. That’s a shame, because the historical architecture, museums, churches, age-old bars, and coffee shops in the downtown area make up the city’s rich and fascinating history. Most of the main attractions are within a few city blocks of each other and you can easily create a nice walking tour of the area. I suggest starting at the pier with a trip out to the Palace on Fiscal Island. From there, you can make a J-shaped loop around the Centro Histórico. That puts you in a great area for sitting with a cup of coffee or cold drink at one of the city’s legendary coffee shops or bars at the end of your tour. The downtown area is safe during the day and full of historical architecture, colorful people, and interesting activities. That being said, a simple reminder can never hurt: don’t bring a lot of money, credit cards or valuables with you on your walking journey downtown (or anywhere in Rio for that matter)…just enough for the day’s activities.
Here are some of the sites in the downtown historical district. I’ll update this article with more sites, so come back to see the rest.
On Sunday at 10am you can hear the Gregorian Chants at the Monastery of São Bento, one of the most impressive Baroque churches in the country. Built in 1663, the monastery contains detailing and sculptures with a mixture of dark Jacarandá wood and gold leaf. Most impressive is the front altar and large paintings along the side altars. The pipe organ is a mixture the original from 1773 and a new organ from 1945. It’s located on Rua D. Gerardo 40 and is open from 7–11am and 2–6pm Monday–Saturday and from 8:15am on Sundays.
The marina area in Rio de Janeiro is on the coast of the downtown area. It has a few different attractions to check out. First, inside the Espaço Cultural da Marinha (Av. Pres. Vargas, 9am–5pm daily) is a small Maritime Museum with a few artifacts showing the history of Brazilian sea navigation. Outside at the pier are two ships that are open for viewing: a battle ship and submarine. The main excursion here is the the boat across to the Fiscal Island, which you can take from the pier. On the island, you’ll see the Palácio da Ilha Fiscal, one of the highlights in historic Rio de Janeiro. The palace was built by Emperor Dom Pedro II in 1889 and was used for about a week bedore Brazil was proclaimed a Republic. After that, it was part of the marine base and later fell into disrepair. Restored in 200, the palace is a beautiful gothic structure with many interesting stained glass windows that show the life of Dom Pedro II and his family. Also restored were the ceiling panels, and paintings on the walls and floors. The outer on the outer walls sine with their original light green color. The architecture in general is fabulous. Inside the various rooms and hallways are permanent exhibitions related to the royal family, the palace itself, and the island. Visitation is guided and you should arrive early to ge a seat on the boat, as it can get crowded (Sundays are less crowded). Boats leave at 1pm Thursday and Friday, 1pm, 2:30pm, and 4pm on weekends. Cost is R$8 for adults.
