Located between the neighborhoods of Humaitá and Gávea, the Botanical Garden of Rio de Janeiro is an island of green, history, and science in the midst of the chaos of the big city with its 54 hectares housing more than 6500 species of plants and vegetables of Brazilian and foreign flora and connecting directly with the Tijuca forest.

The history of the Botanical Garden is intrinsically intertwined with the history of Rio de Janeiro and Brazil. It begins in 1808, with the arrival of the Royal Portuguese family to Rio and with D. João VI taking the decision to found, in the lands that previously belonged to Rodrigo de Freitas, a gunpowder factory (which later exploded and was then reconstructed elsewhere) in the city as well as an acclimatization garden for foreign species. Thus, Horto Real was born.

With the proclamation of the independence of Brazil (1822), in the same year, Real Horto was opened to public visitation as the Real Jardim Botânico. Later that year, as a result of the founding of the Empire of Brazil, it was renamed Imperial Jardim Botânico.

With the proclamation of the Brazilian Republic (1889), in the following year, it became known as Jardim Botânico. From then on, it would receive several distinguished visitors, such as Albert Einstein, among others, becoming a postcard of the city. The Botanical Garden of Rio de Janeiro has been listed by the National Historical and Artistic Heritage Institute since 1937. In 1991, the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization considered it a Biosphere Reserve.

More information about visiting the Botanical Garden and COVID-19 prevention measures that the Institute takes for the safety of its visitors, can be found at the link: http://jbrj.gov.br/visitacao/horarioeingresso

And do you have any personal history like the Botanical Garden space? Share with us in the comments!

If you want to know more curiosities, cultural and historical data of Rio de Janeiro and its surroundings, follow our pages on social networks:

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/befreetur/
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/befreeturrj/

Photo by Vanderley Gonçalves on Unsplash