Selarón Steps (Escadaria Selarón)

Tucked into a narrow stairway connecting the neighbourhoods of Lapa and Santa Teresa in Rio de Janeiro, the Escadaria Selaron is one of the most dazzling public art installations in the Americas. The 215-step staircase is covered entirely in a mosaic of colourful tiles collected from 60 countries around the world, the lifelong obsession of Chilean-born artist Jorge Selaron.

History of the Selaron Steps

Jorge Selaron arrived in Rio de Janeiro in the 1980s and settled in a modest house at the bottom of the steps connecting Lapa and Santa Teresa. In 1990 he began tiling the steps with blue, green, and yellow tiles — the colours of the Brazilian flag — primarily to cover the crumbling concrete. As the project grew, admirers began sending him tiles from around the world.

Over more than two decades Selaron spent every available resource on the steps. He incorporated tiles depicting pregnant women — a recurring motif — as well as religious imagery, flags, mirrors, and personal mementos. Selaron was found dead on the steps in January 2013, his passing mourned by the entire city of Rio.

What to See

The 215 steps reward close inspection. Tiles from Portugal, Italy, Japan, China, the Netherlands, the United States, and dozens of other countries create an encyclopaedia of ceramic styles and patterns. Hand-painted tiles depicting pregnant women recur throughout, and circular mirrors are embedded across the mosaic, catching and fracturing light in beautiful ways.

The steps connect Rua Joaquim Silva in Lapa below to Rua Manuel Carneiro in Santa Teresa above. Visitors are encouraged to sit on the steps, explore the details, and photograph freely. A large portrait tile of Selaron himself anchors the base near Lapa.

Santa Teresa Neighbourhood

The Selaron Steps are the perfect introduction to Santa Teresa, Rio’s most bohemian neighbourhood, which spreads across the hillside above. Winding cobblestone streets, early 20th-century houses, artist studios, independent restaurants, and excellent bars make Santa Teresa one of the most rewarding places to wander in Rio.

Just below the steps, the neighbourhood of Lapa is famous for its nightlife — the Circo Voador venue and the network of bars, samba clubs, and forro halls around the Lapa arches come alive from Thursday through Sunday.

Practical Information

• Tickets: Free to visit at any time
• Opening hours: Open 24 hours; visit during daylight for best photography and safety
• Best time to visit: Morning on weekdays for fewer visitors
• Duration: 30-60 minutes for the steps; 2-3 hours combined with Santa Teresa exploration
• Booking: No booking required

Local Insights

Rio residents love the Selaron Steps for their story — a single artist’s determination to create something beautiful from whatever the world offered him.

• Visit on a weekday morning for the quietest experience and best photography
• Look closely at individual tiles: many are antique Portuguese azulejos and painted tiles with extraordinary histories
• The steps lead directly into Santa Teresa — allow extra time to explore the neighbourhood’s bohemian streets and art galleries
• Lapa’s famous nightlife venues are a 5-minute walk from the bottom of the steps
• The Lapa Arches (Arcos da Lapa) are just steps away — a beautiful Roman-style aqueduct now used by a tram line

Getting There

• By foot: 5-minute walk from Lapa neighbourhood and the Lapa Arches
• Bus: Multiple buses to Lapa from Copacabana and Centro
• Metro: Carioca station (Line 1) — 15-minute walk through Centro and Lapa
• Taxi/rideshare: To Rua Manuel Carneiro (top) or Rua Joaquim Silva (bottom)