Quinta da Boa Vista

Quinta da Boa Vista
Type	Urban park
Location	Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Coordinates	22°54′21″S 43°13′28″W / 22.90583°S 43.22444°W / -22.90583; -43.22444 (Quinta da Boa Vista)
Area	517,541.26 square metres (5,570,767.8 sq ft)
Created	1808
Operated by	Prefecture of Rio de Janeiro

The Quinta da Boa Vista (English: "Estate of the Good View") is a public park of great historical importance located in the

When prince regent John VI and the Portuguese court arrived in Rio de Janeiro, in 1808, Elias António Lopes donated his farm to the Prince. John VI appreciated very much the gift, and stayed long periods in the manor house. At the time, the farm was located relatively far from the city of Rio de Janeiro, and was surrounded by mangroves and swamps. Later these had to be eliminated to facilitate the access to the city.

Imperial Palace

To better accommodate the Portuguese Royal Family, the house went through a renovation between 1816 and 1821, directed by English architect John Johnston. In front of the palace, Johnston installed a decorative gate, a gift sent from England to Brazil by Hugh Percy, 2nd Duke of Northumberland. The gate was later transferred to the entrance of the zoological garden of the Quinta. The house became known as the Paço de São Cristóvão (English: Palace of Saint Christopher).

After the declaration of the

The Quinta today

The Quinta da Boa Vista is a very popular attraction for locals and also tourists. The fact that the North zone of Rio de Janeiro, where the Quinta is located, has very few public parks only contributes to its popularity. The main attractions are the park itself, with its green areas, centenary trees and lakes, as well as the National Museum and the Zoological Garden.

National Museum

Founded in 1818 by

• 
  Entrance Gate
• 
  Temple and Pagoda
• 
  facade

  of the former Imperial Palace that was the National Museum of Brazil
• 
  Zoological Garden

  entrance

Zoological Garden

The Zoo of Rio is perhaps the most popular attraction of the Quinta. It was inaugurated in 1945 under President Getúlio Vargas and is the oldest in Brazil. Among its over 2000 animals, the collections of Brazilian monkeys and birds are particularly important.

References

• Centro de Arquitetura e Urbanismo do Rio de Janeiro (2000). Guia da arquitetura colonial, neoclássica e romântica no Rio de Janeiro (in Portuguese). Rio de Janeiro: Casa da Palavra.
  OCLC 47727038
  .

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Quinta da Boa Vista.

• (In Portuguese) Website of the National Museum
• (In Portuguese) Website of the Rio Zoo