A Guide To Parque Lage A Rio De Janeiro Must-Visit

A former mansion turned art school and public park is tucked away at the foot of Corcovado, concealing the starting point of the challenging trail leading up to the iconic Christ the Redeemer. Yet considering that it’s featured in music videos of the likes of Snoop Dogg, Pharrell Williams and the Black-Eyed Peas, Parque Lage remains relatively off the beaten track and away from the tourist glare of other Rio landmarks.
Parque Lage is most famous for its way of making jaw-dropping first impressions with its architectural beauty. Yet the mansion itself is just one side of the overall package. It’s surrounded by a park where little paths wander vaguely through the exotic flora while the sounds of chattering birds and monkeys drift through the air. In the background stands the Christ the Redeemer, proudly overlooking the scene below. These elements combine to create one of the most unique and enchanting places in Rio.

Parque Lage with the Christ the Redeemer in the background

The mansion is the former residence of industrialist Enrique Lage and his wife, singer Gabriella Besanzoni, who lived within the tranquil and calm grounds of the Botanical Gardens. During the 1920s, the building was remodeled by Italian architect Mario Vodrel, who gave it its soft grey brickwork and mighty pillars, with the interior paintings finished by Salvador Payols Sabate.

Nowadays it is a public park with walking paths that lead through the surrounding forest, creating the sensation of having time traveled to a prehistoric era. The mansion is currently an art school known as Escola de Artes Visuais do Parque Lage, which presents free art exhibitions and the occasional party and performance. There is also a café inside that is nestled between the pillars, shielded by mini bushes and unfolding palms and next to the indoor decorative pool. The open roof merges the blue skies and the tall forest trees with the mansion’s delicate walls, creating the perfect spot to make the most of the free WiFi.

Despite largely going unnoticed by tourists and being undeservedly out of the typical guide book, Parque Lage hasn’t gone unnoticed by world-famous stars. In 2003, Snoop Dogg and Pharrell Williams went to Rio de Janeiro to film their single, Beautiful and featured Parque Lage at the end of the video as part of a huge party with typical carnival-style steel drums. Later in 2005, the Black-Eyed Peas based their video entirely in Rio, with a scene of them performing to a dancing crowd within the iconic walls of Parque Lage.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.