Cinelândia

This downtown square, officially Praça Floriano, became the civic and entertainment heart of early twentieth-century Rio after grand cinemas opened around it. It is framed by monumental belle-époque buildings including the municipal theatre, the national library and the fine arts museum. Cafés and bars spill onto the paving, and the square remains a traditional gathering point for demonstrations. Statues and formal plantings dot the open space, while a metro station beneath makes it a busy downtown hub.