Santa Teresa

Santa Teresa is a neighborhood on a hillside in Rio de Janeiro known for its winding streets and colonial-era buildings. The area contains art galleries, studios, restaurants, and small shops scattered among historic structures and green spaces that give it a homey feel.

The neighborhood developed in the 1800s when wealthy merchants and industrialists built large mansions on the hillside. These buildings shaped the area's character and remain valued today as examples of that era's construction and design.

The neighborhood draws artists and creative people who live and work in converted colonial houses throughout the area. You see galleries, studios, and colorful murals everywhere, giving the district a lived-in artistic character.

The neighborhood is best explored on foot through its steep streets, so comfortable shoes are important. The Bondinho tram offers a connection to downtown if you prefer not to walk the hills, though the local streets themselves reward wandering at your own pace.

The Selarón Steps feature thousands of colorful tiles collected from around the world forming a 215-step outdoor art installation. A local resident and artist named Jorge Selarón created this work over many years as a personal passion project connecting the neighborhood to Lapa below.

Location: Santa Teresa

Shares border with: Rio Comprido, Tijuca, Centro, Botafogo

GPS coordinates: -22.91750,-43.18806

Latest update: December 6, 2025 22:06