Centro in Rio - Walking Tour

This is a walking tour for the neighborhood Centro in Rio de Janeiro. It is where much of the history of Brazil took place and has some really nice churches and buildings to visit. Today it is a commercial and financial center with good shops and markets. It is necessary to bring a good map. We start out at Praça XV, the bus 123 from Zona Sul pass by here.

Praça 15 is the historical center of Rio. By this square you have some buildings of interest. Paço Imperial (The Royal Palace) that has a small exhibition you can visit for free. Rua do Comércio is a small alley opposite the palace, this narrow street used to be the home of Carmen Miranda, a big movie star in the 1930´s - today it is full of restaurants and is a popular for an after-work drink.

Now follow Rua Primeiro de Março until you get to CCBB (Centro Cultural Banco do Brasil). CCBB is a cultural center which sometimes has interesting exhibitions of art and culture, they also have a cinema. Entering the building is to recommend because of its beautiful interior. From here walk over the street to the Candelária church, very richly decorated built in the 17th century. going inside you will notice how beautifully decorated it is.

The monastery São Bento is next - continue along Rua Primeiro de Março to the end, then turn left and enter Rua Dom Gerardo. After about 300 meters turn right up a steep road, soon you will arrive at the 16th century benedictine monastery São Bento. Its adjoining church is open for visits everyday from 8 AM to 11 AM and 2:30 PM to 6 PM. It is very richly decorated with carved wood covered in gold. São Bento is the oldest church in Rio de Janeiro and on UN´s world heritage list.

Go down the street you came up and walk back to Candelária church, take a right on Avenida Presidente Vargas, when you get to Rua Uruguaiana turn left. This is the shopping district Saara, named after a organization started by Lebanese merchants. The square has a Arabian market with countless stalls, on the three adjoining streets there are hundreds of small stores. You can find pretty much anything here - flashlights, bags, watches, sunglasses - you name it. Nothing is expensive or of high quality.

Confeitaria Colombo opened in 1894 and is the oldest café in Rio. In the early 20th century it used to be frequented by writers, artists and thinkers. The Art Noveau interior is almost original. It is located on Rua Goncalves Dias 32 close to the Arabian market. Continue down Rua Uruguaiana and turn left, you are soon at the square Largo da Carioca. Walk past it until you reach Avenida República do Chile and turn right and you are at the modernistic Metropolitan Cathedral. Inside it is quite a spectacle to see how the light enters the stained glass windows. Backtrack until you reach Avenida Treze de Maio where you turn right.

After about 500 meters you arrive at Cinelândia. Here is the National Library, famous for its collection of rare volumes and the beautiful interior. To go on a guided tour you need to book by calling 2220-9484. You also have Teatro Municipal here, a beautiful building where opera, theater and ballet is performed. For booking a guided visit call 2262-3935. Going back from here is easy since there is a Metro Station right at Cinelândia.

Centro can at times be a quite dangerous place. Avoid going here weekdays after 7 PM, Saturdays after 3 PM and all Sundays and holidays. At these times the streets are deserted and the risk of getting robbed is high.

Gringo-Rio
The Rio de Janeiro travel information site.