Santa Teresa

The hillside neighbourhood of Santa Teresa, where aging 19th-century-mansions and a bohemian spirit offer a very different take on the Cidade Maravilhosa (Spanish for ‘Marvellous City’). Take in fine views from the Parque das Ruinas, stop for potent caipirinhas, or ride along the old-fashioned tram that still rattles along the cobblestone streets. The neighbourhood never loses sight of its community roots, and many of its spaces have been re-imagined into Art Deco buildings that serve as stomping grounds for artists, travellers and collaborators. Trolley tracks run through this intimate neighbourhood’s cobblestoned-streets lined with ambrosial restaurants, adding to its folksy allure and ethereal magnetism.