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An important square to visit in Rio de Janeiro’s city center is Cinelândia. The official name of the square is Floriano Peixoto Square (Praça Floriano Peixoto), named after a Brazilian soldier and politician who has a monument dedicated to him in the center of the square.
Municipal Theatre
This plaza was nicknamed Cinelândia because it had several historic theaters spring up around it. The most famous is the Municipal Theatre (Theatro Municipal). It was built in 1905 and holds the city ballet, opera, and orchestra.
The theatre is luxurious both inside and out. It’s considered to be among the most stunning theatres in Brazil.
Other Buildings
Other prominent buildings on the plaza include the Pedro Ernesto Palace (Palácio Pedro Ernesto), which serves as city hall, and the National Library (Biblioteca Nacional), the largest library in Latin America and the 7th largest in the world. It was established in 1810. There’s also the Federal Justice Cultural Center (Centro Cultural de Justiça Federal) and the National Museum of Fine Arts (Museu Nacional de Belas Artes).
People Watching
Besides the historic buildings, the plaza is also a great place for people watching. There was a book fair taking place when I visited.
Safety
Note: The only time you should visit this area is during the weekdays. Nights and weekends are absolutely off limits. Nobody lives in this area and it is not safe to be there alone. You should also be aware of your surroundings and be very careful with valuables.
