While Rio de Janeiro is known for its Copacabana and Ipanema beaches and its famous Christ the Redeemer, there is a neighborhood that is worth visiting and that keeps many places hidden for us to discover. We are talking about Santa Teresa! This area of ​​the city is where we find bohemia, the hotbed of intellectuals and art! The name of the neighborhood is due to the Convent of Santa Teresa of the Order of the Barefoot Carmelites who, because of the importance they have always had, bestowed their name onto the entire area.  
One of the most interesting neighborhoods to visit in Rio is Santa Teresa, located on top of a hill / Photo: Source
  If you visit the Lapa neighborhood beforehand, you will see the famous Lapa Arches that were once an aqueduct that made it easier for the water to reach the Barrio de Santa Teresa, allowing it to be populated by people. Among the attractions found there, it’s important to mention the famous "Bondinho" which is one of the best-known symbols. It has been circulating since 1896 and reaches the highest part of the hill. As the city was modernized and buses appeared, as in other cities, the tram was disappearing. But the neighbors of Santa Teresa were able to make sure that this tour did not eliminate it.   An important part of its route is when it goes over the Arches of Lapa and has stunning views of the city.  
The experience of traveling in a means of transport for the last century is an unforgettable ride! / Photo: Source
  It usually works from Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays or holidays from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and the frequency is every 30 minutes.  Residents, children in school uniforms and those over 60 years old are not charged for their ticket. As part of this attraction, we can mention that there is the Bonde Museum. Where there are old photos and even a historic tram that circulated pulled by donkeys. History lovers will have a good time here. Travel Tip: Experience a fantastic night tour and visit one of Rio's most renowned bars - the Rio Scenarium and enjoy an incredible night of glamour and Brazilian music in Lapa.   Another place you can not miss is the Staircase of Selarón. It is a work of art by Chilean artist Jorge Selarón, in which he paid tribute to the city by placing tiles of different designs and colors throughout the route of the staircase.  
The Staircase of Selarón is a work of art by Chilean artist Jorge Selarón, in which he paid tribute to the city / Photo: Source
  Always respecting the blue, green and yellow, the colors of the Brazilian flag, and in turn with old tiles from around the world that it has been accumulating over the years. This famous staircase connects the neighborhood of Lapa with Santa Teresa and in total it has 215 steps and more than 2000 different tiles that decorate it. There is a part that recreates the Bay of Guanabara, Christ the Redeemer and the Sugar Loaf. Here you can take one of those photographs that capture your trip to Rio. Travel Tip: Explore the main tourist attractions of Rio de Janeiro with this Big Dude tour. Visit São Condrado, Bosque de Tijuca, Escalones de Selaron, Cristo Redentor and more.   If you go during Carnival, here it is celebrated in a very fun way and is represented by the Bloco das Carmelitas that invites everyone to dress up as nuns. There are 2 important moments, when the carnival begins the escape of a nun is reenacted and on the last day when she returns to the convent. The amount of people participating in this party is amazing, it becomes impossible to walk the streets and the atmosphere is total fun.   If we are interested in visiting a museum, we have the possibility to go to The Museum of Chácara do Céu. Here we will find works by artists such as Matisse, Seurat, Modigliani or Miró who are European. Or also Brazilian art by Guignard, Portinari, Iberê Camargo among others. Inside it also houses a library with more than 8000 copies. Speaking of art, we cannot forget about the cinema. Here we will find the Casal Santa Cinema. Alternative cinema projects in a small and very nice place. It was inaugurated in 2003 with the function of the movie God is Brazilian. At the beginning it was located in a church and then the municipal government of Rio de Janeiro, seeing its success, gave them a place in the rooms of the XXIII RA building so that in this way it can work every day and increase its capacity for the public. A club has also been formed with residents who access benefits for the use of cinema. Another place you can not miss is the Parque das Ruinas. There is a huge colonial house where today a cultural center operates. On the upper level, you get magnificent views of the city. Inside the Park, we find an exhibition gallery, auditoriums, and a cafeteria. The alternatives and artistic exhibitions vary throughout the year. We can find dancing, poetry, music and other art, and a sector dedicated to the little children. Travel Tip: Experience an exciting jeep tour from Corcovado and its Christ the Redeemer, through the multicultural Santa Teresa neighborhood, to the Tijuca Forest surrounded by all the tropical beauty.   In addition to the places mentioned that you must know, this neighborhood has a very diverse culinary offer and in most of its bars and restaurants, you can appreciate the city of Rio from above.  
The gastronomic offer of Santa Teresa is very diverse and for all tastes and budgets / Photo:  Daytours4u
  Unlike other areas of the city, the pace is slower and allows one to relax. To name one of the best-known places, there is Café Do Alto, which specializes in northeastern Brazilian food, especially tapiocas. In the morning, and on the weekends it offers a complimentary buffet breakfast (free) where we can try many of the traditional products of the north of the country. We can mention the Bar do Mineiro, no matter what time we go, it will always be full of people both inside and outside of the premises. Here it is unique to enjoy a cold beer and a feijoada. These types of places are known as the first aid kit. At Espírito Santa, their specialty is fish and side dishes. Also the desserts, but what brings us the most in the climate of Rio, is to go out at night and contemplate a romantic evening with a view towards the horizon. We will be surrounded by a lot of vegetation, we can enjoy drinks and novelties of Rio's cuisine pleasantly. The variety of cachaças allows us to experience many different tastes and flavors. If the budget allows, we have the option of going to Térèze, which is inside a boutique hotel, where the menu has a French imprint with elaborate dishes. There is a wide variety of dishes to choose from and they have a 6-course menu experience that is worth a try. Travel tip: Keep in mind that in Santa Teresa there are no banks, which is good to bring a credit card or cash previously purchased.   If the idea is to enjoy dancing samba, we have the option of Samba dos Guimarães, which is traditional in this neighborhood. Herewith live music and frenetic rhythm, we can be part of the typical music of Brazil until the wee hours of the morning with an atmosphere of people predisposed to dance until dawn. A place that is also a must-see is Explorer Bar. It is the first level of place in every way. The views, the cocktails, the attention and the quality of the food. It has a terrace where time seems to stop and contemplate, the city from there invites us to enjoy in silence or with a conversation in the company of how beautiful Cidade Maravilhosa is. Another place worth mentioning is Raízes do Brasil. Here we can enjoy a breakfast or countryside snack and during midday dishes of the day at a very good price. The place is very cozy and the visitor's profile looks for contact with mother nature. We can also find a fair that sells natural products produced by farmers from different parts of the country. Travel tip: The Heart of the neighborhood is the Largo de Guimarães, it is a meeting place and the encounter, where the cultural and artistic offer abounds. At the same time, we find countless culinary offers and we can enjoy spending an afternoon and be part of the atmosphere of Santa Teresa. Rio de Janeiro is a unique and unforgettable city of Santa Teresa to meet there and enjoy its slow pace and cultural richness.  
  By: Gonzalo Ramirez, author of the Travel Blog GonTraveler