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Sunday, in Glória, a neighborhood in the Southern Zone of Rio, is a popular fair day. The sun has not yet risen, but dozens of traders have begun setting up their stalls and arranging fruits, vegetables, fish, flowers, and biscuits on their displays. When the clock strikes 8 am, the buzz on Avenida Augusto Severo starts to grow. Residents, locals from other neighborhoods and tourists start to arrive to enjoy one of the most traditional fairs in the city. Here you can buy fresh produce, have a special breakfast and still enjoy good samba. A program for the whole family.

Glória is a strategic neighborhood, as it is located right on the border of Rio’s City Center with the Southern Zone, just a few steps from Cinelândia, right next to Santa Teresa and very close to its neighbor, Catete. Just across the streets, locals and visitors find the stunning Praça Paris Square and the Aterro do Flamengo. The neighborhood has a lot of history and was once the place of the aristocracy. The starting point for our walk through the popular fair is the subway station. As you take the Rua da Glória exit, just cross the traffic sign to get to the fair.

If your goal is just to visit and enjoy the ambiance of a typical popular fair, do not shy away from accepting a taste of tropical fruits like pineapple, watermelon, and mango.   From one stall to another, residents do their shopping and sellers announce their offers. A shout here and there makes the environment even more interesting. One of the fair’s big hits is the pastel. The tent, which is located right at the beginning, is one of the busiest ones. The flavors include ground beef, chicken and cheese, among others. It is also possible to find kibbehs and sugar cane juice. It’s a perfect combination of flavors.

After touring the fair, go to Praça Paris, just across the street.   If tasting the fruits or the pastel open your appetite, how about having a picnic on the square’s lawn? On Sundays, the place is full of locals. Many with children. The square, which is surrounded, is ideal to let the little ones loose. The park was built in 1926 from a project by French urbanist Alfred Agache, who paid homage to the typical squares of the French capital. If you prefer, you can rent a bike and explore Aterro do Flamengo. The car lanes are closed for leisure on Sundays.

In the afternoon, when the fair ends and is dismantled and the streets are cleaned, the central footpath of the avenue becomes a stage for the traditional roda de samba. The music livens up and attracts thousands of locals and tourists. One of the most well-known and popular roda de samba is the Gloriosa, which occupies the space every third Sunday of the month. And the samba goes far. And it usually ends at 9 pm. That is if they don’t come back for the last song, leaving in the air that desire to postpone the end of the Sunday. It’s worth it.