JARDIM BOTÂNICO

The Botanical Garden, with its avenues lined with imperial palms, is one of Rio's must-sees, second only to the Sugar Loaf and Christ the Redeemer. This superb park is considered one of the ten most important botanical gardens in the world. In addition to its collection of plants and trees from all over the world, the botanical garden is a haven of peace and contact with nature, where you can bask for hours.

The garden's history began in 1808, when the Prince Regent of Portugal, Dom João VI, fled Napoleon's armies and settled in Rio. He had an acclimatization garden built, in which he planted species such as tea, a custom he had brought back from Europe.

The botanical garden covers some 140 hectares and includes part of the sugarcane plantation that existed in colonial times. The Royal Garden is crossed by two rivers, the riacho Iglesias and the rio dos Macacos, which supply the garden with water from the Tijuca forest. It contains some 6,000 species of plants and trees from all over the world, not including those native to Brazil. The first two buildings on the right, once past the entrance, belonged to the botanical garden's directors. Pacheco Leão's blue house is used for various exhibitions. One of the symbols of the botanical garden is its long rows of imperial palms, with a view of Corcovado in the background. These palms, originally from Malaysia, were brought to Rio by Dom João VI.

The garden contains two small miniature gardens, one inspired by Japan, the other by Amazonia. The garden's cast-iron fountains and sculptures originate from the Centro and were transferred when the avenues were modernized.

Of particular note is the name of Marshal Manoel Marques, who also brought back numerous plants from French Guiana, including the famous coffee. The central fountain dates back to 1905 and comes from the doorway of the former Academy of Fine Arts. In the straight aisle, you'll see a pau-brasil tree, which gave its name to the country, and the pond covered with the magnificent Victoria Régia, giant water lilies. The glass roof features an attractive variety of carnivorous plants. The next aisle leads to the Orchid canopy. The cactus park boasts an impressive number of cacti in an infinite variety of shapes. The botanical garden store offers a wide range of beautiful books. Purchases help to maintain the garden.