Santa Teresa

Famous for the yellow tram crossing through, Santa Teresa was once the most elite area of Rio de Janeiro, high on a hill, with great views to the bay and the mountains.

Santa Teresa still preserves beautiful architectural houses from the 18th century, with lookouts and curves in the streets which will surprise you at every turn with magnificent views of the Guanabara Bay.

Writers and artists have always been seduced by the district's call to internal life and to its architectural, gastronomic and cultural treasures.

Santa Teresa is a place for those willing to add culture, charm and a historic touch to the trip. These features are present in the accommodation options Dilos Holiday World recommends.

Mama Ruisa Hotel, a beautifully designed mansion overlooking the Guanabara Bay, is filled with nice art and furniture. Collections of drawings by Jean Cocteau, unique photos by Josephine Baker, Colette, Maria Callas, and religious sculptures from all over Brazil are present in each of the 7 luxurious rooms.

Santa Teresa offers a variety of gastronomic options. We selected the top three restaurants with a charming setting and exquisite food.

Sobrenatural, a long time favourite, serves up some of the best Bahian food in Rio. This restaurant with exposed brick walls and wooden ceilings is a quaint and comfortable place to enjoy your meal.

Set in a lovely old house in the hills of Santa Teresa, Aprazivel boasts excellent views and an equally stunning garden setting. The menu is Brazilian with flare, such as the fillet mignon with cream of spinach, banana and parmesan and an excellent grilled fish with a white wine sauce.

Espirito Santa also specializes in Brazilian cuisine. On the ground floor is the main dining room, the bar and a veranda with a view of the comings and goings of antique trolley cars. On the lower level there is a lounge for special events.

If interested in a cultural gourmet experience in the carioca style rather than a traditional restaurant, book a visit plus dinner with the painter João Carlos Favoretto. To show his work, the artist and his family will offer a delicious Brazilian dinner, served in their backyard or in the dinner room, so visitors can experience how Favoretto and his family live their everyday life.

To start a fresh day in Santa Teresa, take a walk at the Parque das Ruinas (Ruins Park). Set high up on the hill with a view of the entire city, the park houses an exhibition room, auditorium and an outdoor cafe that host music shows and reading of literary texts - the house in brick, metal and glass calls attention for its architecture and style.

Then, head to the Chacara do Ceu Museum. With its charming garden and three floors filled with art and furniture, the Chacara do Ceu Museum still feels like someone's house. The former owner of the mansion was a wealthy man with eclectic taste, and filled it with all manner of paintings, pottery, and sculpture. Mainly European painters such as Monet and Matisse, Picasso and Dalí, Brazilian art, particularly 19th-century landscapes, and Chinese pottery are to be seen here. Be sure to make it to the third floor to see some historic photos of Rio in days gone by.

Santa Teresa also houses a Carmelite Convent founded in the 18th century, from which the neighborhood was named after (Santa Teresa Church and Convent). The convent permits no visitors but those interested can attend the Sunday 8 a.m. mass at the church.

After lunch at one of the nice restaurants mentioned above, stroll around the neighborhood visiting some of the many art and crafts shops that are there.

In June and December the resident artists open their galleries to display their work - it is called "Arte de Portas Abertas" (open house to the art).

Wander the Almirante Alexandrino Street, the oldest in the district, on the Curvelo Square. There you can find a Casa Navio (Ship House) inspired on the deck of a vessel, an architectural daring. And from this street the surprising Valentim Castle, a fortress in neo-romantic style built in the 19th century, converted in an apartment building. Nearby there is a belvedere that overlooks the Guanabara Bay.

In the evening, enjoy the bohemian lifestyle of Santa Teresa.

On Guimaraes Square there are the most popular restaurants and bars serving iced beer and good hors d'oeuvres. Do not expect fancy bars, but cool, simple yet pleasant ambiences. Among them, Bar do Mineiro, Bar do Arnaldo (northeastern cuisine), and Adega do Pimenta.

Sunset brings the lively presence of artists, intellectuals, lots of beautiful people and Brazilian popular music. Samba and bossa nova are the prevailing music of the night. At Neves Square, with its lovely old houses dating from the 1850s and the Church Nossa Senhora das Neves, try the caldo verde (traditional Portuguese soup) of Bar do Goyabeira, the sandwiches of Café das Neves or the shrimp pastry of Santa Saideira.

It is important to remember not to wander off alone at night for safety's sake. And to be sure to try some caipirinhas, to taste feijoada and to dance a few steps of samba, in the neighborhood that celebrates the inner spirit of life.