Parque das Ruínas

Parque das Ruínas is a park in Santa Teresa featuring the preserved walls of an early twentieth-century mansion. Metal walkways cross over the ruins and lead to viewpoints overlooking Guanabara Bay and the city below.

The mansion was built in the early twentieth century as a gathering place for artists and intellectuals. After decades of deterioration, it was restored in 1993 and transformed into a public space.

The park honors Laurinda Santos Lobo, a patron who gathered artists and writers there during her time. Today visitors experience music performances and art displays that echo this creative legacy.

The park is open daytime hours from Tuesday through Sunday with free entry. Buses serving Santa Teresa stop nearby and provide direct access to the entrance.

The modern metal structures frame the original walls rather than cover them, creating unexpected angles where past and present coexist visually. Walking through reveals how the two layers interact and change the view at each turn.