Parque Lage: A Roman Palace at the Foot of Christ the Redeemer

Parque Lage, nestled in the Jardim Botânico neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro, is a captivating blend of history, architecture, and natural beauty. Originally a sugar mill in the colonial era, the land transformed over the centuries into a private estate and, finally, a public park. The park's 52 hectares sit at the foot of Corcovado Mountain, offering stunning views of the Christ the Redeemer statue.The park's centerpiece is the Palacete Lage, a Roman-style mansion commissioned in the 1920s by industrialist Henrique Lage for his wife, Italian opera singer Gabriela Besanzoni. Designed by Italian architect Mario Vodret, the mansion boasts a central courtyard with a pool, marble details, and interior paintings by Salvador Payols Sabaté. The mansion served as a venue for lavish parties, hosting Rio de Janeiro's high society. Today, the mansion houses the Escola de Artes Visuais (EAV), a visual arts school that offers free art education and hosts exhibitions, seminars, and lectures.The park's gardens, originally designed in the romantic English style by landscaper John Tyndale, provide a tranquil escape. Visitors can explore geometric French-style front gardens, wander through lush side gardens with diverse plant life, and discover hidden caves and aquariums. A trail from Parque Lage leads up Corcovado Mountain to the Christ the Redeemer statue, offering adventurous visitors a unique hiking experience. Parque Lage was recognized as a historical and cultural heritage site of the city of Rio de Janeiro in 1957.