The gardens aren’t the only highlight of Sitio Roberto Burle Marx. Inside Marx’s original farmhouse and studio, many of his paintings, furniture, and sculptures are on display and show the creative force of a design genius. Visitors can also walk through the dining hall and music room. Access to the garden and house is by tour only.
Sitio Roberto Burle Marx can be found in the Barra de Guaratiba neighborhood in the west of Rio de Janeiro. The only way to get there is by car, so it’s best to hire a taxi or join a guided tour that includes roundtrip transportation.
The garden is open for tours from Tuesday to Saturday at 9:30am and 1:30pm. Be sure to book your tour in advance, as they often fill up.
What you won’t see much of on this 86-acre (35-hectare) property as in other botanical gardens are flowers. This design choice was Marx’s signature, as he wanted to achieve aesthetic timelessness and avoid seasonal changes. Instead, grasses, layers of shrubs, and palm trees create flowing transitions between varying shades of green, with the occasional bromeliad adding a pop of color. It’s one of the biggest collections of tropical and subtropical plants in the world.
