Parque Lage

The estate was remodelled in the 1920s by the industrialist Henrique Lage for his wife, the Italian singer Gabriella Besanzoni, and the Italian architect Mario Vodret produced a palatial house around an open courtyard with a swimming pool at the centre and Corcovado rising directly behind it - which is the shot everyone comes for, the mountain and the statue framed by the arcade. The grounds behind were laid out as an English romantic garden with an artificial cave, a tower and ponds. Since 1975 the house has held the Escola de Artes Visuais, so it is a working art school with exhibitions, and there is a well-known café in the courtyard. A steep trail from the back gate climbs to Corcovado on foot.

What you actually see

• Corcovado through the arcade - the mountain framed above the courtyard pool.
• A 1920s industrialist's mansion - now a working visual arts school.
• An English romantic garden - artificial cave, tower and ponds behind.
• A trail up Corcovado - the walking route starting at the back gate.

When to go

April to October. Two hours, going early for the courtyard without a queue.

Honest expectations

The café has long waits at weekends and the courtyard fills with people photographing the same view. The Corcovado trail is steep, takes about two hours and has had security incidents - go in a group and early. Parts of the school are closed to visitors.

Nearby

The Botanical Garden is next door; the Lagoa is downhill.