Largo da Carioca (Carioca Place), Rio de Janeiro

Largo da Carioca (Carioca Place), Rio de Janeiro

Largo da Carioca is a vibrant square. It seems like most residents of Rio de Janeiro pass through this square every day, and they probably do. The subway stop here brings a large amount of pedestrian traffic, coming and going. This central square is considered the heart of Rio de Janeiro. It is surrounded by a mix of newer buildings and striking historical buildings.

The Convento de Santo Antônio (Convent of Saint Anthony) was constructed between 1608 and 1620 on top of a hill. The hill overlooked a pond, which was drained to become the present-day plaza. The interior of the convent features one nave and beautiful gilded carvings. The Petrobras building is one of the modern structures facing the square. Petrobras is the largest oil company in the region.

Visitors will be fascinated by the Metropolitan Cathedral. This beehive-shaped building is a very non-traditional look for the city's Catholic cathedral. The Presbyterian Cathedral looks much more traditional. Missionaries from the United States constructed this church in 1862.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Rio de Janeiro. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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Largo da Carioca (Carioca Place) on Map

Sight Name: Largo da Carioca (Carioca Place)
Sight Location: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (See walking tours in Rio de Janeiro)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Walking Tours in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Create Your Own Walk in Rio de Janeiro

Create Your Own Walk in Rio de Janeiro

Creating your own self-guided walk in Rio de Janeiro is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Rio de Janeiro Beach Walk

Rio de Janeiro Beach Walk

The Copacabana and Ipanema beaches are two of the main reasons Rio is so famous around the world. While Copacabana is a year-round tourist hub, famed for its incredible New Year’s Eve celebrations, the Ipanema and Leblon neighborhoods have the cleanest, safest, most beautiful beaches in the city, and are the favorite playgrounds of Rio de Janeiro’s upper-middle class.

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Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.9 Km or 3 Miles
Rio's Top Religious Sites

Rio's Top Religious Sites

Due to the legacy of the Portuguese in language, religion, and law, Rio de Janeiro has had a rich and influential Catholic tradition. Until the mid-20th century almost all Brazilians were – at least nominally – Catholic, and today the country’s religious sites, both classic and modern, impress with their skill, creativity and devotion.

Founded in 1590 by Benedictine monks from Bahia, the...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.0 Km or 1.9 Miles
Rio de Janeiro Introduction Walking Tour

Rio de Janeiro Introduction Walking Tour

Rio de Janeiro is the capital city of the state of Rio de Janeiro. It was founded in 1565 by the Portuguese. It was the capital of the State of Brazil of the Portuguese Empire from 1763 until 1822.

When Brazil became independent of Portugal in 1822, Rio de Janeiro became the capital of the Empire of Brazil. In 1889, Brazil became a republican nation, with Rio de Janeiro as its capital. But in...  view more

Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.0 Km or 2.5 Miles

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