Passeio Publico is one of Rio de Janeiro's oldest public spaces, commissioned in 1779 and often described as the first public park in the Americas. Its Rococo-style gate and old ironwork fountains give a sense of how the colonial city presented itself.
The park is most rewarding as part of a Centro walk, especially with nearby Lapa, Cinelandia, and the historic churches of central Rio. It is not a full outing on its own, but it is a worthwhile historic pause in a part of the city rich with architecture.