Escadaria Selaron turns a Rio staircase into a living mosaic
Published on 09/23/2026 at 01:48 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Escadaria Selaron climbs between Lapa and Santa Teresa in Rio de Janeiro as a long public mosaic of colour, ceramic and mirror. Chilean artist Jorge Selarón began transforming the staircase in 1990, covering its concrete surfaces with tiles gathered from Brazil and beyond.
Escadaria Selaron rises between Lapa and Santa Teresa
The staircase runs along Rua Manuel Carneiro, connecting the lower streets of Lapa with the higher Santa Teresa neighbourhood. Its lower access lies near Rua Joaquim Silva, while the upper route reaches Rua Pinto Martins. The Lapa Arches stand nearby, giving the staircase a clear place within central Rio’s urban landscape.
Escadaria Selaron is a passage as well as an artwork. Its 215 steps extend for about 125 metres (410 ft), creating a long ascending surface rather than a single framed monument. The tiled route changes in colour and pattern from section to section, with blue, green, yellow, red and white appearing across the stair fronts, risers and side walls. between Lapa and Santa Teresa
Jorge Selarón and the work of 1990
Jorge Selarón was born in Chile and worked as a painter and ceramic artist. In 1990, he began placing coloured tiles on the steps beside his home. The project continued through the following decades, with the staircase taking shape through hand-laid pieces, found materials and tiles brought from many countries.
More than 2,000 tiles cover the staircase, with contributions connected to over 60 countries. Brazilian colours form a recurring visual thread, while individual pieces include painted scenes, patterns, lettering and fragments from places far beyond Rio de Janeiro. The surface therefore works at several scales: distant sections read as broad bands of colour, while nearby tiles reveal separate images and textures. Jorge Selarón began in 1990
A public staircase made from thousands of separate pieces
The character of Escadaria Selaron lies in its accumulation. No single tile carries the whole design, and no single viewpoint shows every surface. The staircase is assembled from ceramic squares, painted tiles, glazed fragments and mirrors, with images set beside geometric decoration and strong blocks of colour.
Selarón continued changing and extending the work until his death in 2013. The result is a public artwork embedded in an ordinary route through the city. In 2015, the staircase received recognition as historical and cultural heritage of Rio de Janeiro. Music videos by U2 and Snoop Dogg also used the colourful steps as a setting, linking the site to Rio’s wider visual culture. historical and cultural heritage
Visiting Escadaria Selaron: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- Escadaria Selaron is in central Rio de Janeiro, between Lapa and Santa Teresa. The lower approach is by Rua Joaquim Silva, near the Lapa Arches, and the upper approach is by Rua Pinto Martins.
- The staircase contains 215 steps and rises along Rua Manuel Carneiro for about 125 metres (410 ft). A visit involves a steep urban ascent or descent on tiled steps.
- Glória and Cinelândia are the nearest named Metro stations. The Santa Teresa Tram serves the hill district, while the staircase itself connects directly with the streets of Lapa.
- The official language is Portuguese and the currency is the Brazilian real.
- Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.
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Frequently asked questions about Escadaria Selaron
Where is Escadaria Selaron?
It is in Rio de Janeiro, between Lapa and Santa Teresa. The staircase runs along Rua Manuel Carneiro, near the Lapa Arches and Rua Joaquim Silva.
What can visitors expect on the staircase?
Visitors encounter 215 tiled steps extending for about 125 metres (410 ft). The route includes ceramic pieces, painted designs, mirrors and strong blocks of Brazilian colour.
What makes Escadaria Selaron distinctive?
Jorge Selarón built the artwork across decades from thousands of separate tiles linked to Brazil and over 60 countries. It remains a public staircase whose surfaces form a large open-air mosaic.
