Lage Park | Parque Lage

The park has many adventures for the whole family. Take advantage of one of the picnic areas. There’s a children’s playground. Stroll across the bridges and along the hiking trails, geared for a variety of different levels of hikers. Wander through the Italian villa that got its start in the early 1920s. The historic estate is now a visual arts school: Escola de Artes Visuais do Parque Lage. This school is opened to the public. Walk through the halls and witness students at work creating art. Make your way to the balcony that overlooks the villa’s Swimming pool. Enjoy a tasty meal at the Cafe du Lage. At this little oasis you will get a spectacular view of Corcovado and Christ the Redeemer.

The park provided the setting where Snoop Dogg and Pharrell filmed their music video “Beautiful.”

In 1922 Henrique lag had the mansion redesigned to please his wife, Italian opera singer Gabriella Besanzon. Henrique Lage hired an Italian architect and designer Mario Vodret, who gave the mansion its Italian marbles, tiles, interior paintings by Salvador Paylos Sabate of salons, and a courtyard that frames the central swimming pool and fountain. This gives you the feeling that you are in an Italian villa. The design added to the existing style gives an eclectic style to the mansion.

To enter the premises you go through double gates inviting you along a windy driveway lined with Royal Palms. This leads to the beautiful structure surrounded by 52 hectares of picturesque gardens and trails. The premises are filled with ponds, lush rainforests and miles of paths that wind through shady areas creating a calming atmosphere. Explore man-made caves, made from artificial rocks and logs. One cave showcasing 12 beautiful aquariums. These aquariums are embedded in the walls, displaying a variety of fish from lakes and rivers in Brazil. The largest tank has the capacity to hold 6,000-litres. Children love to view these gorgeous species.

June 14th, 1957 the Historical and Artistic Institute listed Henrique Lage Park a historical and cultural heritage of the city of Rio de Janeiro.

If you are an experienced hiker, you will likely enjoy hiking up through hills and rainforest to the summit of Corcovado. It is not advisable to hike this trail alone though, as tourists have been robbed on it.

After touring Parque Henrique Lage make your way to Jardim Botanico the nearby Botanical Gardens. These gardens feature plants from all around the world, covering an area of 338 acres. There’s a fee to enter the gardens.

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