Take the subway or a taxi to Cinelândia, whose official name is the Praça Floriano, on the Rio Branco, the city's most desirable commercial address. The praça duplicates a Parisian city square with a number of inviting sidewalk cafes. Take a look at the tall buildings to note the architectural details from the Art Deco and Modern period of the '30s and '40s.
Around the praça, you’ll find:
National Library - The Biblioteca Nacional is
“A project by Francisco Marcelino de Souza in Neoclassical style with Corinthian columns, from 1910. The collection was gathered since the XVIII century. Among the rarities are a Guthenberg Bible from 1462, a 1572 edition of Camões' As Luziadas, the De Angelis collection and the Empress Teresa Cristina's collection, donated by Emperor Dom Pedro II. Av. Rio Branco, 219.” (Ipanema.com)
Museum of Modern Art -
"Designed by Affonso Eduardo Reidy, and the gardens are by Roberto Burle Marx. The museum opened doors in 1960. A tragic note in the history of the museum is the fire of 1978. It destroyed 90% of the permanent collection, including many priceless masterpieces by Picasso, Dali, Miró and Paul Klee. Today the permanent collection is complemented by the more than 4,000 works of Brazilian artists of the Gilberto Chateubriand Collection, displayed on a special location on the third floor. The film collection of the museum is also outstanding, with classic, art and rare Brazilian movies. Since 1990 the museum has also been home to important international exhibitions. Promoters occasionally rent the annex for shows and other parties. Av. Infante Dom Henrique, 85.” (Ipanema.com. Roberto Burle Max is the landscape architect who landscaped the capital city of Brasilia.
Museum of Fine Arts - Some of Brazil's best art is displayed herein the Galeria de Arte Brasileira.
Municipal Theater – “Project and design by A. Guilbert and Francisco de Oliveira Pinto, it opened its doors on July 14, 1909. Paintings by Eliseu Visconti and Rodolfo de Amoedo, and mosaics by Bernardelli are some of the attractions. If you have a chance come for a concert of classical music or ballet and take a look on the inside as you enjoy top quality entertainment." (Ipanema.com)The theater was renovated in the 1930's, adding touches of the Paris Opera.
Lapa Arches - Carioca Aqueduct -
Built "in the early XVIII century. It is 270 meters long and surrounded by the Metropolitan Cathedral, Fundição Progresso, Sala Cecília Meirelles, a couple of top samba halls, and other points of interest. The 42 arches linked Santa Teresa and Santo Antonio Hills. Today there is a streetcar linking Lapa to the historical streets of Santa Teresa with several art galleries and other attractions.”
(Ipanema.com)
Palácio Pedro Ernesto, today headquarters of the Municipal Council.
Take a break at a suco bar, for a refreshing fruit drink, then move on to the pedestrian mall, the Largo da Carioca, to see the Convento de Santo Antonio's jacaranda wood-carvings and the Portuguese blue tiles called azulejos. This is the site of Rio's oldest church, started here in 1608.
Spend some time window shopping along the Rua da Carioca and nearby streets for jewelry, musical instruments and wine and cheese shops. If you stop at Bar Luis, you'll be in Rio's longest running restuarant and you can enjoy a chopp (beer) where Rio's intellectuals have congregated for decades. In this area, the theater district with Cinema Iris, Teatro João Caetano and Teatro Carlos Gomez presenting films, plays and dance performance.
Check out the Campo de Santana, honoring Dom Pedro I, King of Portugal, who proclaimed Brazil's Independence from Portugal.
