at a glance

initially inhabited by the high society of the 19th century, the neighborhood was enriched by the construction of luxurious mansions, some of which are still in existence today, such as the the castelo do valentim. over time, santa teresa did not remain the exclusive neighborhood that it once was. it suffered from a period of neglect but later became an area of great cultural interest and a landmark neighborhood of rio.

romantic by definition, and a favorite among many intellectuals, santa teresa is home to a variety of open studios where many artists create and show their work. these hills are the perfect setting for many arts fairs, and every year, during the famous arte de portas abertas festival, dozens of painters and sculptors welcome the public into their studios.