Casa 579
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Santa Teresa is a unique part of Rio. With its cobbled streets, colonial mansions and the old fashioned Bonde tram, it appears to have stopped in time. It has a fantastic mix of architecture and lots of lush vegetation. With museums, great restaurants and local bars full of character, atmosphere and plenty of live music, it is also just minutes from the city centre and Lapa, the famous Rio nightlife and home of artists, writers and creative types since as long ago as the 19th century, it was also home to many Rio luminaries, including the men behind the first railway in Brazil and the Christ the Redeemer statue itself. It is also less segregated than other parts of Rio, with rich and poor living in closer proximity and more harmoniously than other areas of Rio.Nowadays, Santa Teresa is Brazils first environmentally protected urban area. It is also a designated sustainable tourism area, with tourism activities focused upon preserving the beautiful natural and historical environment and promoting socio-economic equality. The Yellow Bonde (Tram) that runs between Santa Teresa and the city centre, originally horse drawn in the 19th Century, is now the only remaining tram network in South America, and still an integral mode of transport for the local community.