Quinta da Boa Vista Park and Gardens

Quinta da Boa Vista park and gardens, is a large area that was home, gardens and farm of the Royal Family from 1817 until 1889 until the Republic was proclaimed. It is located in São Cristovão neighbourhood, in Rio de Janeiro City.

The gardens are huge, with large lawn areas and beautiful and huge trees, contains a lake with two caves. One of the caves resembles a den of pirates, and you can walk inside.

The park also has a Chinese gazebo-style and in the lake there is a small island with a neoclassical band stand connected to the banks by a picturesque bridge imitating wooden stick.

The area with gardens and landscaping was planned and executed in 1869 by Auguste Glaziou, a French landscape.

The large gardens tend to a romantic landscape and English style, with several winding alleys and roads surrounded by lawns and trees.

You can walk around the lake, walk through picturesque paths and areas surrounded by medium and huge astonishing trees and woods, huge lawns and gardens.

There is also a smaller garden, right in front the neoclassical palace, which was the former residence of the Kings until the proclamation of Replública. This garden in the front yard, seems to be somewhat different, with geometric lines, surrounded by cement railings  also in neoclassical style, giving intensional extension to the magnitude of the Palace.

This space or front yard where there is the fenced garden is prior to the gardens designed by Auguste Glaziou in 1869, however, It must have been renovated and changed along the years, and probably it is like it was when the Predo II, the last emperor lived there. In this garden, there are statues of Pedro II, his wife and empress Leopoldina and his sons and daughters. 

The old Imperial Palace of São Cristovão, which was the residence of the royal family in Quinta da Boa Vista Gardens houses the National Museum of Natural History, also known as National Museum of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro State. 

Without the obvious exception of the palace architecture which is preserved, as far as we can see and visit the palace interiors, there is no more furniture from the Empire age.

When the former Emperor went exiled to Portugal, he took with him the furniture. 

However the museum has a rich collection, and has been renovated and modernized recently, and It is open to visitors. In Petropolis City, a town in the highlands of Rio de Janeiro state, about one hour far from Rio there is another royal palace, which was the summer palace. It was was the place where the royal family would spend his day during summer, when Rio got to hot.

As for the Gardens, which is now a huge park open to visitors, besides the natural setting, it is possible to observe different species of trees, some with huge trunks and vines. 

You can see birds, and many banks are also scattered around the site to sit down and contemplate the nature.

Being a lasure area, a varied group of people visit the park, with the predominance of single people and families, usually easy-going and gentle people, many of families use the time to picnic. You can see people carrying with them a basket with snacks, food and something to drink, and laying a towel on the lawn to have a meal.

On the lake you can rent pedal boat in the shape of swans, and you can also rent bicycles or pedal triciclos with a canopy cover where two people can ride sitting. Even at the banks of the lake there are available for rent some kayaks or canoes to paddle.

At the site you can always find somebody selling popsicles and ice cream, mineral water and soft drinks (sodas), as well as sandwiches stalls and hot dogs carts.

For those going for the first time, and want to visit all the park, the Museum and the Zoo, consider that it will take a full day at least.

The Rio de Janeiro Zoo is inside the huge Quinta da Boa Vista park and gardens, behind and too close to the old Imperial Palace that nowadays houses the National Museum of Natural History. The one who sees the palace has to take a broad path on the right side of the gardens, go down a lawn sloping to get the Zoo gate and buy the ticket.

The zoo is also very beautiful, very green, with a wonderful palm tree alley and sorted animals of Brazilian fauna and abroad fauna.

Directions to site | How can I get there:

To reach Quinta da Boa Vista park, you can use the subway and get off at station São Cristovão station. It is to close to the station and you just need to cross the street to reach the gate.

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Rio Zoo, is situated inside the Quinta da Boa Vista park