The Arcos da Lapa, or Lapa Arches, is a striking white 18th-century aqueduct that dominates the lively Lapa district and now carries the historic Santa Teresa tram. Its grand double row of arches is a symbol of old Rio and the beating heart of the city’s nightlife, surrounded by bars, samba clubs and street parties, especially at weekends. Impressive by day and atmospheric by night, it is both a landmark of colonial engineering and the gateway to some of the most vibrant nightlife in the city.