May 2, 2026
Parque das Ruínas: Guide to Santa Teresa’s Iconic Viewpoint in Rio de Janeiro
Of all the viewpoints I take guests to in Santa Teresa, none has a story quite like this one. Parque das Ruínas isn’t just a belvedere — it’s a mansion that lived three lives. Located at the heart of Santa Teresa, Parque das Ruínas offers a unique blend of history and culture.
From High-Society Salon to Ruin
The park was once the 19th-century mansion of Laurinda Santos Lobo, a wealthy woman who organized music concerts and cultural events for Rio’s high society. In its golden years, this hillside house was where the city’s artists, musicians and intellectuals gathered — if you were anyone in Rio’s cultural scene, you passed through Laurinda’s salon.
When she died, the house was donated to an institute — which abandoned it. Left empty for decades, the mansion decayed into a skeleton of brick and was eventually occupied by homeless residents, a sad product of that abandonment. It was a former mayor of the city, Cesar Maia, who took the house back and carried out its restoration in the 1990s. Instead of rebuilding it as it was, the architects preserved the exposed brick ruins and threaded modern steel walkways through them — which is exactly what makes the place so striking today. Now it’s a famous cultural center and one of the main reasons visitors climb up to Santa Teresa.
The View
The park offers a 360-degree view over downtown Rio, Guanabara Bay and Sugarloaf Mountain. Every time I bring guests up here, I say the same thing: imagine living in a house like this. Opening your curtains in the morning and being greeted by this view — it really is a blessing. Laurinda knew what she was doing when she chose this hill.
For photographers, late afternoon light over the bay is the prize — though if you want to see Rio from even higher, there’s always a helicopter flight over the city.
What You'll Find There Today
Today the park houses a theater dedicated to Ruth de Souza, the famous Afro-Brazilian actress and a pioneer of Black experimental theater in Brazil — a fitting tribute in a house that was always about culture. There are rotating art exhibitions, and on Saturdays an artisan fair takes over the grounds, which is my favorite day to visit. And visitors can treat themselves at the charming café on site, with the bay as the backdrop. If you like timing your trip around cultural happenings, check Rio’s events and festivals calendar too.
Entry is free. The park closes on Mondays.
How to Get There
Taxi or Uber — and remember our standing advice: only Uber Black or Comfort, and avoid the yellow street taxis. The streets of Santa Teresa are narrow and steep, so a car drops you practically at the gate.
The scenic alternative is the historic Santa Teresa tram, followed by a short walk from the nearest stop — use our informative map of Santa Teresa to plan the route.
Parque das Ruínas or Parque Glória Maria?
If you’ve seen a different name on maps recently, here’s why: the city renamed the park Parque Glória Maria, honoring the pioneering Brazilian TV journalist who passed away not long ago — one of the most beloved figures in Brazilian journalism. Locals, guides and most signage still say “Parque das Ruínas,” and honestly I think both names will coexist for many years. Whichever name you use, everyone in Santa Teresa knows where you mean.
What to Visit Near Parque das Ruínas
Right next to the park — connected to it, in fact — is the former home of Castro Maya, known today as the Museu Chácara do Céu. He was a great art collector, and the museum holds paintings and prints by Debret and other important artists of his era. Admission is free, and beyond the collection, it’s a chance to see how a wealthy Rio collector’s house was decorated — plus a beautiful view from the residence’s veranda.
A 5-minute walk from the park takes you to the world-famous Escadaria Selarón, on the border with Lapa.
And take a little extra time in Santa Teresa to visit Nau Cultural and the Veredas shop — two secrets we’re passing on to you for your visit to Rio’s bohemian hill. That’s the kind of place where you find gifts that didn’t come from an airport shelf. When hunger strikes, we’ve also mapped the best restaurants in Santa Teresa.
Visit With a Local
Parque das Ruínas is one of the highlights of our private tours through Santa Teresa and our historic tour of Rio. Book your private Santa Teresa tour to discover this and other secrets of the loveliest neighborhood in Rio, including the beautiful Parque das Ruínas.
