Visit historic Santa Teresa, home to the artisians of BrazilThe area known as Santa Teresa is perched upon a hilltop resplendent with surrounding city of Rio de Janeiro and the bay of Guanabara. Santa Teresa is a hub of both history and culture in Rio de Janeiro. With winding narrow streets, colonial Portuegese architecture and renouned restuarants, Santa Teresa offers an array of experiences to it’s visitors. A favorite location for artists and writers, who seduced by the cultural treasures, give the district a vibrant artistic subculture including many studios and art dealers that call Santa Teresa home. Santa, as it is lovingly referred to by residents and frequent visitors, is an excellent piece of Brasil’s history but to many tourists seems to be a world unto itself. Seemingly unafflicted by time, Santa Teresa has guarded Old Rio culture and history for decades. Named for Igreja e Convento de Santa Teresa or Santa Teresa Church and convent, the district was settled just outside the convent which houses the Ordem das Carmelitas Descalcas (the order of the Barefoot Carmelite Nuns). These nuns, who aspire to a simple and discreet life, live in almost total isolation and are rarely seen outside of their convent. The district also houses the last remaining street tramcars in Brazil. Dating back to1896, when the trams first began running over the Arcos da Lapa to Santa Teresa, the cars are preserved as a part of the district’s cultural heritage. The trams, which are still in perfect operating condition begin their route in downtown, crossing the Lapa Arches and continue on through Santa Teresa. The fare is under a dollar and there are two lines that run on 15 minute intervals. The guided tram rides have two seperate tours on Saturdays. The first, Passeio Historico follows a cultural route and runs approximately one hour. The second runs approximately two hours, the Ecologico, and includes a trip through the forest as well. The tram makes a stop at Largo dos Guimaraes e Largo das Neves or Guimaraes and Neves Squares in the heart of the district. This cultural area is representative of the particular bohemian lifestyle of Santa Teresa. In Guimaraes Square there are a wide range of bars and restaurants frequented by the artists and intellectuals of the city. Neves Square is surrounded by beautiful houses that date back to the 1850’s. Neves Square is also host to several of Santa Teresa’s most popular bars. Also, along the tram’s track is the Laurinda Santos Lobo Cultural Center. The center, named for a Laurinda Santos Lobo, one of the most respected intellectuals of the area, is a gorgeous house that hosts a photographic collection of Laurinda and her many parties and events. The center also has video rooms and exhibition space. There are so many museums and architectural displays worth exploring
in the area, one could easily spend weeks visiting them all. This
district of Rio De Janeiro is easily one of Brasil’s most
artistic and historical cultural centers. |