Back to Parque Lage

Parque Lage is one of my new favorite places. It is an incredible place, with lots of history and a green, lush atmosphere, with lots of birds and other wild animals - and what is most incredible is that you step right out of the crazy Rio traffic into this magic.

The first time I went there it was by mistake, I wanted to visit the much more famous Jardim Botanico, but I was seduced by Parque Lage. That was a very long time ago...I went back this year with visitors and was happy to see that the old Italian-villa inspired mansion now has a small restaurant and that an art school continues in the building.

Yesterday I was back with a good friend for lunch. We had a very agreeable, light lunch and then we went for a walk in the park. There have been some incidents recently on trails leading from the park into the forest, but we found the area to be very quiet and with guards everywhere.

The park is a somewhat tamed wild, with the exuberant plants of the Atlantic forest threatening to take over the European-style park. It is complete with lakes, bridges, playground for children and even a mini castle!

Here are our impressions:

"Imagine having a husband that would build you something like this!" my friend sighed. The mansion was built by Henrique Lage to please his Italian wife in the 1920's.