A place to go alone and read a book, to enjoy with the partner and date, to walk with the kids and have fun, to visit with friends and venture yourself out!…

At the base of the Corcovado hill, in the heart of Jardim Botânico, an old farm can fill with lightness and inspiration a pleasant sunny morning in Rio’s South Zone. Among geometric gardens and little lakes and caverns, the peace and beauty take place trough the green silent and the exuberance of an old house in Roman style installed in the Atlantic forest. Be welcome to Parque Lage (Lage Park, in free translation)!

In the old sugar mill, that carries the last name of its last owner – the Brazilian industrial Henrique Lage –, a piece of cake, a cup of coffee and some sugar can turn into a moment of contemplation and happiness in one of the most beautiful city’s constructions: the Roman palace. Building in the name of Lage’s love by his Italian muse, the house is a space of gastronomy and knowledge diffusion!

In front of the beautiful swimming pool, installed in the center of the old house, people, tables, umbrellas and delicious food divide the space with scale models, drawings and paintings of the students of the Escola de Artes Visuais do Parque Lage (Lage Park Visual Arts School, in free translation), which takes place there. The paintings color not only the works of these beauty lovers, but also the breakfast of those who visit the place!

With the flavor of artisan breads, homemade jams, cakes, cheeses, fruits, juices and milk, the experience of waking up and enjoying the delights that come in a white wood tray is sensational! And it gets even better if, after the bucolic breakfast, the morning still goes on in the beautiful garden in front of the main palace!

Designed by the English landscape artist John Tyndale – another prior owner of the place –, the garden in a romantic style, with a fountain in the middle, was inspired by European farms, charming its visitors, art students and everyone who passes by there! Try to sit down next to the painter in the green seat and enjoy, along him, the beauty of the palm trees of the park! The bronze sculpture pays tribute to the Brazilian famous singer Tom Jobim and his son João Francisco, who planted a tree there!

After enjoying the relaxing time with the painter, invest in a walk to breathe the pure air of the green spaces and energize yourself with the lakes and caves that enrich the place. Now, if you seek adventure and fun, invest in the trails! Take a chance in that trail that leads to Cristo Redentor (Christ the Redeemer, in free translation)! But pay attention: as this journey has a higher difficulty level, just try it if you are already familiar with the activity, ok?

If you are with the kids, the good thing is the playground with slide, swings and seesaws! As the area is large, taking a ball, buckets and blades to play can be a good idea! If you prefer, surprise the little ones with the aquarium there. Hidden inside a small cave, it will enchant the gang! But if the intention is to innovate, the picnic is a great option! With tables scattered around the place, the invitation is not only to the young people, but also to adults! Everybody will love it!

At the end of the day, Parque Lage is this: lakes, an aquarium, trails, a playground, a space of courses, meetings and art, an amazing breakfast and great seats to relax and enjoy the pure air of a gold morning with the fun “aroma”!… So at the end of the tour, the certain is just one: a day of calmness in the middle of nature! So, do you feel like experiencing this? Go, meet and then come back here to tell us!