Perhaps the perfect companion activity to a visit to the Jardim Botânico is found on the same street: a park that transports visitors to another age. The site of a former sugar mill belonging to an elite family, the property also is home to a diminutive, architecturally eclectic palace from the early 20th century that today serves as a fine-arts academy. Its interior features a cloister and pool that are stunningly photogenic, with the jungle in the background and Cristo Redentor high above. You’ll even find a path there that leads to the Corcovado summit, suitable only for the heartiest adventurers. Mere mortals content themselves with a coffee on the patio or a leisurely garden stroll.
