Parque do Flamengo, Rio de Janeiro

Flamengo Park, known by several names including Aterro do Flamengo, Eduardo Gomes Park, and Aterro do Brigadeiro Eduardo Gomes, stands as Rio de Janeiro's largest public park and recreational area, and is also renowned as the world's largest urban seaside park.

Situated along Guanabara Bay in the Flamengo neighborhood, the park lies between Downtown Rio and Copacabana. Its inception can be attributed to Lota de Macedo Soares, while Affonso Eduardo Reidy played a pivotal role in its conception and design, incorporating Modernist park gardens and civic landscapes. The internationally acclaimed landscape designer and artist Roberto Burle Marx contributed to the park's design. This sprawling 296-acre (120-hectare) park was fully realized in 1965.

Flamengo Park boasts the Rio de Janeiro Museum of Modern Art, the Carmen Miranda Museum, and the Monument to the Dead of World War II, adorned with Modernist memorial sculptures.

The park has a rich sporting heritage, offering a variety of outdoor recreational facilities. It serves as the starting and finishing point for numerous marathons held in the city. Additionally, Flamengo Park hosts the primary segment of Rio's Cycling Race, an event that holds a prominent place in the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) world ranking among Latin American competitions.

During the 2007 Pan American Games, Marina da Glória served as the principal venue for the Rio 2007 Sailing competitions. Furthermore, Flamengo Park played a significant role during the Games by serving as the arrival points for the Marathon (both men's and women's) and hosting the Race Walking and Cycling Road competitions.

Why You Should Visit:
You can do many different kinds of things there: go skating, in-line skate, go biking, get a suntan, have a picnic, walk around and appreciate the view of the bay, etc.
The park is state-of-the-art for gardening, with very good views, proper pedestrian walks and separate bike lanes, plus the many kiosks to refresh yourself.

Tip:
Go walking around on a Sunday to get a pretty good feel of what people do on the weekend. It's a massive park, bustling with people who participate in a variety of activities.