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Friday, October 24, 2025

Rio de Janeiro : Centro

We spent a drizzly day walking around Rio downtown. It was immediately obvious that in recent centuries Brazil had been very wealthy. Money came from sugar, coffee, rubber, gold, and diamonds, worked by slave and immigrant labor. As such business models are not sustainable, it is apparent that Rio struggles to keep up with its vast legacy.

From very near our apartment in Copacabana we took the Metro from General Osorio Station to Carioca Centro. John rode for free as he's 60+.
Metro - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Centro has more than a few monumental buildings. Our route started at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Saint Sebastian.
Metropolitan Cathedral of Saint Sebastian - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Metropolitan Cathedral of Saint Sebastian - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Iceman - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

The National Library interior is amazing. And it's near a tram stop.
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

National Library of Brazil (NB) - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

National Library of Brazil (NB) - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

The Library faces the Teatro Municipal and its eye-opening basement Assyrian Room (Salão Assyrio).
Teatro Municipal - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Salão Assyrio - Teatro Municipal - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Overlooking both the National Library and the Teatro Municipal is the Convent of Santo Antônio.
Convent of Santo Antônio - Centro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Convent of Santo Antônio - Centro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

We happened to walk by the landmark and renowned Confeitaria Colombo coffeehouse where folks were queueing.
Confeitaria Colombo - Centro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Tasty soba noodles for lunch at All Sabor Japa.
All Sabor Japa - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Tasty Soba - all sabor japa - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

The Royal Portuguese Cabinet of Reading (Reading Room) is filled floor to ceiling with books, and folks taking selfies. ;-)
Real Gabinete Português de Leitura (Royal Portuguese Cabinet of Reading) - Centro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Real Gabinete Português de Leitura (Royal Portuguese Cabinet of Reading) - Centro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Our favorite Art Nouveau building in Rio is the Casas Franklin Building, now a home goods store.
The Art Nouveau Casas Franklin Building - Centro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

The Art Nouveau Casas Franklin Building - Centro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

At one point we found ourselves on the narrow lanes of the SAARA Shopping District as we walked towards Central Station.
SAARA Shopping District - Centro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Mannequins - Centro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

The Palácio Duque de Caxia, a military headquarters, sits across the plaza from the Rio Central Station with its iconic clock tower.
Palácio Duque de Caxias ( PDC) - Centro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

The Art Deco Central do Brasil Station  - Centro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Mural by Brazilian Artist Rita Wainer.
Mural by Brazilian Artist Rita Wainer - Centro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

The Brazilian Modernist Federal Police Headquarters, formerly the National Press Building, was designed by a team of architects including Lúcio Costa and Oscar Niemeyer, with supervision from Le Corbusier.
The Modernist Federal Police Headquarters - Centro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

The fabulously ornate interior of the São Bento Monastery. Wow!
Mosteiro de São Bento (São Bento Monastery) - Centro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

There was a concert in progress in the largely empty Igreja Candelária. Check out the angels supporting the two pulpits.
The Interior Candelária Church - Centro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

The Legislative Assembly Room for the State of Rio de Janeiro in the Palácio Tiradentes
The Legislative Assembly Room  for the State of Rio de Janeiro in the  Palácio Tiradentes - Centro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

The Interior of the Antiga Se (Old Cathedral).
The Interior of the Antiga Se (Old Cathedral) - Centro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

And finally, after 22K steps, we took the Metro back to General Osório Station.
Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

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