The Centro is a neighbourhood of the downtown area

Zona Central, Rio de Janeiro

The Central Region is the historical, administrative, and financial centre of the City of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It has been undergoing a major revitalisation since it was rediscovered by locals in the 1990s.- Neighbourhoods in Central Zone :...

 of Rio de Janeiro

Rio de Janeiro

Rio de Janeiro , commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America, boasting approximately 6.3 million people within the city proper, making it the 6th...

, Brazil

Brazil

Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...

. It represents the financial heart of the city, and the crux of the Central Region.

Characteristics

Despite still having a large number of residences, the neighborhood is predominantly commercial. It has historical buildings as well as modern skyscrapers. Their residential areas are mainly along Rua do Riachuelo and Castelo. It is the historic centre and financial centre of the city.. Sites of interest include the Paço Imperial

Paço Imperial

The Paço Imperial , or Imperial Palace, is a historic building in the center of the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The Paço Imperial was built in the 18th century to serve as residence for the governors of colonial Brazil. From 1808, it was used as a royal residence by King John VI of Portugal as...

, Candelária Church

Candelária Church

The Candelária Church is an important historical church in the city of Rio de Janeiro, in Brazil. It was built and decorated during a long period and combines a Baroque façade with a Neoclassical and Neo-Renaissance inner decoration.The church was the site of several significant moments for the...

, the Old Cathedral of Rio de Janeiro

Old Cathedral of Rio de Janeiro

The Old Cathedral of Rio de Janeiro dedicated to Our Lady of Mount Carmel, is an old Carmelite church which served as cathedral of Rio de Janeiro from around 1808 until 1976. During the 19th century, it was also used as Royal and Imperial chapel by the Portuguese and Brazilian royal families...

, and the modern-style Saint Sebastian's Cathedral

Rio de Janeiro Cathedral

The Cathedral of Rio de Janeiro , is the seat of the archbishop of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It is dedicated to Saint Sebastian, the patron saint of Rio de Janeiro. The current church was built between 1964 and 1979 and replaced a series of old churches that had served as cathedrals since 1676. It...

. Around Marechal Floriano Square

Cinelândia

Cinelândia is the popular name of a major public square in the centre of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Its official name is Praça Floriano Peixoto, in honour of the second president of Brazil, Floriano Peixoto.-History:...

, there are several landmarks of the Belle Époque

Belle Époque

The Belle Époque or La Belle Époque was a period in European social history that began during the late 19th century and lasted until World War I. Occurring during the era of the French Third Republic and the German Empire, it was a period characterised by optimism and new technological and medical...

 such as the Municipal Theatre and the National Library building. The Centro area also has several museums such as the National Museum of Fine Arts

Museu Nacional de Belas Artes

The Museu Nacional de Belas Artes is a national art museum located in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The museum, officially established in 1937 by the initiative of education minister Gustavo Capanema, was inaugurated in 1938, by president Getúlio Vargas...

 and the National Historical Museum.

Other important historical attractions in downtown Rio include its Passeio Público

Passeio Público

The Passeio Público is a public park in the historic centre of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Built after 1779, it is the oldest public park of Brazil and one of the oldest in the Americas.-History:...

, an 18th-century public garden, as well as the imposing arches of the Carioca Aqueduct

Carioca Aqueduct

The Carioca Aqueduct is an aqueduct in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The aqueduct was built in the middle of the 18th century to bring fresh water from the Carioca river to the population of the city...

. A "bondinho" (tram) leaves from a station near Saint Sebastian's Cathedral, crosses the aqueduct (converted to a tram viaduct in 1896) and rambles through the hilly streets of the Santa Tereza

Santa Teresa (Rio de Janeiro)

Santa Teresa is the name of a neighbourhood in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It is located on top of the Santa Teresa hill, by the centre of Rio, and is famous for its winding, narrow streets which are a favourite spot for artists and tourists....

 neighbourhood nearby. Downtown remains the heart of the city's business community. Some of the largest companies in Brazil have their head offices here, including Petrobras

Petrobras

Petróleo Brasileiro or Petrobras is a semi-public Brazilian multinational energy corporation headquartered in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It is the largest company in Latin America by market capitalization and revenue, and the largest company headquartered in the Southern Hemisphere by market...

, Eletrobras

Eletrobrás

Eletrobras is a major Brazilian power utility. It's also Latin America's biggest power utility company, tenth largest in the world and is also the fourth largest clean energy company in the world. It is currently expanding its operations in the continent, as well as in Africa. The company's full...

, and Vale. Most of Rio's skyscrapers, especially the tallest ones, are located in this neighbourhood. Crowded from monday to friday, it becomes empty at saturdays, sundays, and holidays.