Parque Lage,

Parque Lage (in full "Parque Enrique Lage") is a public park in the city of Rio De Janeiro, located in the Jardim Botânico neighborhood at the foot of the Corcovado.

The land was formerly the residence of industrialist Enrique Lage and his wife, singer Gabriela Bezanzoni. During the 1920's Lage had the mansion remodeled by Italian architect Mario Vodrel, with interior paintings by Salvador Payols Sabaté.

In the 1960's the land became a public park, with walking trails through subtropical forest. The Escola de Artes Visuais do Parque Lage (Visual Arts School of Parque Lage) and a café open to the public operate from the former mansion.

The place is perfect for having breakfast at Cafe du Lage in an artistic atmosphere. There is a free parking space. The park is well guarded by some security guys. After breakfast you can stroll around in the park, visit a little castle, some ponts, an old washing place of the slaves working in the coffee plantations and enjoy a beautiful view from a little hidden vantage point over the Rodrigo de Freitas lagoon until Ipanema and the Cagarras Islands. For the more sportive ones: The trail going up to the Corcovado peak starts also here, inside the park.