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Santa Teresa and Lapa: free self-guided audio tour of Rio de Janeiro
Santa Teresa and Lapa is a free self-guided audio walking tour of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: 5 stops in about 1 h 40. The Itinerarly app walks you from one stop to the next and plays a short narrated story when you arrive, in English, French, Spanish, Italian and Chinese.
| Stops | 5 |
|---|---|
| Duration | about 1 h 40, including time at each stop |
| Difficulty | Moderate |
| Distance | about 2.1 km in straight lines between the stops (a little more on foot) |
| Start | Arcos da Lapa |
| Finish | Chácara do Céu Museum |
| Price | Free (some sights charge their own entry ticket) |
| Languages | English, French, Spanish, Italian and Chinese |
Colonial arches, Selarón stairway and bohemian district
The stops, in order
- Arcos da LapaHere are the Arcos da Lapa, the former colonial aqueduct that became the emblem of Lapa's bohemian district. Built between 1744 and 1750, this monumental structure 270 meters long, supported by 42 white arches, once carried water from the Carioca River from the Santa Teresa hill down to the public fountain in the city center. A marvel of colonial engineering, it was converted in the late 19th century into a railway viaduct and still supports today the…
- Selarón StairwayWelcome to the Escadaria Selarón, Brazil's most famous and photogenic stairway. This unique artwork is the legacy of Chilean artist Jorge Selarón, who devoted more than twenty years of his life, from 1990 until his death in 2013, to covering these 215 steps with over 2,000 ceramic tiles from more than 60 countries. Selarón saw his work as a tribute to the Brazilian people.
- Largo do Guimarães (Santa Teresa)Here is Largo do Guimarães, the beating heart of the picturesque Santa Teresa neighborhood, perched on the hill overlooking central Rio. This small tree-lined square is the meeting place of bohemians, artists, and travelers seeking authenticity. Around the square gather the finest cafés, bars, and craft shops of the district.
- Ruins ParkWelcome to the Parque das Ruínas, one of Rio's most evocative and romantic sites. This was once the home of Laurinda Santos Lobo, a patron of the arts and socialite of the early 20th century who turned her house into a true artistic salon, welcoming Heitor Villa-Lobos, Anna Pavlova, and many other intellectuals of the era. After her death in 1946, the house was abandoned for decades.
- Chácara do Céu MuseumHere is the Museu Chácara do Céu, one of Rio's best-kept secrets. This elegant modernist residence was the home of art patron and collector Raymundo Ottoni de Castro Maya, who on his death in 1968 bequeathed his entire personal collection and his house to the Brazilian state. The visit is an immersion into the world of an enlightened art lover: you will discover works by Picasso, Matisse, Dalí, Monet, Portinari, and Di Cavalcanti, alongside Brazilian…
How to take this tour
- Install the free Itinerarly app on iPhone or Android and create a free account.
- Open Guided tours, choose Rio de Janeiro, then Santa Teresa and Lapa.
- Start whenever you like: the app guides you to Arcos da Lapa and the story plays when you arrive at each stop.
Other audio tours of Rio de Janeiro
Frequently asked questions
- Is the Santa Teresa and Lapa tour in Rio de Janeiro free?
- Yes. It is one of 3 free self-guided audio tours of Rio de Janeiro in the Itinerarly app. Some sights charge their own entry ticket.
- How long does the Santa Teresa and Lapa tour take?
- About 1 h 40 for 5 stops, including time at each stop.
- Where does the Santa Teresa and Lapa tour start and finish?
- It starts at Arcos da Lapa and finishes at Chácara do Céu Museum.
- Which languages is the narration in?
- English, French, Spanish, Italian and Chinese, with natural-sounding synthetic voices.