Quinta da Boa Vista, Public park and former imperial residence in São Cristóvão, Brazil
Quinta da Boa Vista is a public park in the São Cristóvão district of Rio de Janeiro that covers roughly 52 hectares (128 acres) of gardens, lakes, and green spaces surrounding a neoclassical palace. The complex sits in the northern part of the city and also houses the National Museum in one of the main buildings.
The estate evolved from a Jesuit farm into a royal residence after Prince John VI acquired it in 1808 and commissioned English architect John Johnston to redesign it in the neoclassical style. Following the end of the monarchy, the grounds passed into public ownership and became one of the city's main parks.
The name translates literally as Estate of the Good View, referring to the panoramas over surrounding hills that visitors enjoy from several points across the grounds. Families often gather on weekends beneath the old trees for picnics, while joggers use the wide paths along the lakes.
The park opens daily and provides access to recreational areas, walking paths, and pedal boat rentals on the lakes for visitors of all ages. The main paths are wide enough for wheelchairs and strollers, though some sections cross uneven terrain.
The entrance gates are made from Coade Stone, an artificial material from 18th-century England that is no longer produced and known for its resistance to weather. A Chinese-style pavilion inside the grounds sits along Sapucaias Avenue, a road named after the tall native trees lining the path.
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