Selaron Staircase: Brazil’s Eclectic Mosaic Staircase
After spending decades wandering the globe creating art, sculptor and painter Jorge Selaron knew that he wanted to settle in the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro as soon as he arrived there. Jorge Selaron—who is originally from Chile—instantly fell in love with Rio’s vibrant music, delectable food, and robust art scene.
Jorge Selaron sold countless paintings on the streets of Rio, but it is a gleaming staircase that he carefully renovated over the course of 2 decades with over 2,000 mosaic tiles from around the world for which he is best known. When Jorge Selaron set out to spruce up the crumbling staircase outside of his home, he initially used blue, yellow, and green tiles to pay tribute to his adopted home of Brazil.
Photo by depositphotos.com
As Jorge Selaron’s staircase renovation project expanded, it became known as Escadaria Selaron, or the Selaron Staircase. Starting in 1990, Jorge Selaron could often be spotted dressed in bright red clothing adding colorful tiles to his creation. Travelers from around the world started gifting Jorge Selaron tiles with the name of their home country, favorite football team, or a likeness of their favorite painting. Onlookers can spot tiles from Jamaica, Jordan, and Kazakhstan. The Selaron Staircase also features numerous tiles with original artwork from Jorge Selaron’s own hand, including several images of a mysterious pregnant woman of unknown origin who Selaron often rendered.
Photo by depositphotos.com
Photo by depositphotos.com
Tragedy struck in 2013 when Jorge Selaron was found dead on the very steps that he lovingly refurbished. The cause of Jorge Selaron’s death is still unknown. The Selaron Staircase is one of Rio de Janeiro’s most popular destinations. Models, musicians, and people from all walks of life pose for pictures on the Selaron Staircase. Jorge Selaron’s vibrant contribution to the city that he loved so much will surely thrive for centuries.
UnusualPlaces Field Notes
- Location
- Escadaria Selarón (Selarón Steps), Lapa–Santa Teresa, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Coordinates
- -22.91552, -43.17964
- Access
- The public staircase connects Lapa and Santa Teresa and has 215 steps over roughly 125 m. There is no step-free route up the full staircase. Use care on the steep steps and keep belongings secure; Rio visitor guidance recommends a daylight visit.
- Admission
- No ticket or admission charge is listed for the public staircase in the municipal tourism listing; paid guided tours, if chosen, are separate.
- Time needed
- About 30–60 minutes to climb or descend, look at the tiles, and take photographs; crowd levels and nearby stops can add time. Planning estimate.
- Best season
- Rio's tourism authority does not name a preferred season or publish fixed visiting hours for the public staircase. It is an outdoor site; the city lists it as an open-air attraction, so choose a daylight visit and check local weather and access conditions.
- Opening hours
- This is a public outdoor staircase rather than a ticketed venue. The official tourism listing does not publish fixed hours; check local access and prefer daylight.
- Location checked
- 2026-09-28
- Facts checked
- 2026-10-03
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