The Colégio Sion in Cosme Velho features a long, pale facade punctuated by tall, arched windows that sit tucked behind a thick stone wall. Founded in nineteen hundred, this school served as a secluded refuge for the daughters of Rio de…
Cosme Velho Old Mansions
Walk through a steep, tree-shaded valley at the base of the Corcovado mountain range to see picturesque neo-colonial houses, historic tram lines, and former homes of famous writers.
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1. Colégio Sion
2. Capitu Café
The Capitu Café wears a bright, pale yellow facade, tucked behind a low stone wall on the steep incline of Ladeira do Ascurra. It occupies the former home of Maria de Lourdes, a neighbor who spent decades feeding the local community from…
3. Solar dos Abacaxis
The bright yellow paint on the Solar dos Abacaxis stands out against the lush greenery of the Cosme Velho neighborhood. Built in the late nineteenth century, this mansion served as the residence for the Commendador Joaquim Antonio de…
4. Parish São Judas Tadeu
The facade of the Parish of Saint Jude Thaddeus features a massive, rounded arch that frames the entrance in a deep, recessed shadow. This church was built in nineteen forty-five to serve the growing population of the Cosme Velho…
5. Largo do Boticário
Largo do Boticário features a collection of colorful, neo-colonial houses huddled around a small stone plaza and the trickling Carioca River. It takes its name from Joaquim Luiz da Silva Souto, a nineteenth-century apothecary who served…
6. Estação Cosme Velho
The Estação Cosme Velho features a bright yellow facade and a clock tower that stands out against the dense green slopes of Corcovado. This station serves as the base for the Corcovado Rack Railway, which climbs the mountain to the Christ…
7. Casa Roberto Marinho
The Casa Roberto Marinho features a distinctive modernist facade hidden behind dense gardens in the Cosme Velho neighborhood. Roberto Marinho, the influential founder of the media conglomerate Globo, purchased this estate in the…