On Praça XV de Novembro, in the heart of Downtown, the Paço Imperial (Imperial Palace) is one of the most important buildings in Brazilian history. The colonial mansion was home to the governors, a royal palace and the seat of power under the Empire — and it witnessed some of the country’s defining moments.
It was built in 1743 as the House of the Governors, at the initiative of Governor Gomes Freire de Andrade. In 1808, when the Portuguese court arrived fleeing Napoleon’s troops, it became the Royal Palace and housed the Prince Regent, João. After Independence it became the Imperial Palace.
Two landmark scenes took place here. On January 9, 1822, Prince Pedro announced he would stay in Brazil, defying orders from Lisbon — the episode is remembered as the “Dia do Fico” (“I Will Stay” Day). And on May 13, 1888, Princess Isabel signed the Lei Áurea (Golden Law) in the palace, abolishing slavery in Brazil.
With the Republic, the building lost its political role and for decades housed the Post and Telegraph service. Restored in the 1980s, it reopened as a cultural center: today it hosts art exhibitions and has a library, a café and a restaurant, and its inner courtyards are a quiet retreat in the middle of Downtown.
The highlight is the ensemble around it. In front of the palace stands the Mestre Valentim Fountain, from 1789, built when the sea still came almost up to it; across the square, the Arco do Teles leads to Travessa do Comércio; and nearby is the ferry station for Niterói. This is the heart of colonial Rio.
Tips: check the exhibition program and opening times on the official channels before you go. Choose a weekday, when Downtown is lively, and combine the visit with the National Historical Museum, Candelária Church and, in the late afternoon, a draft beer on Travessa do Comércio.
Official website: Paço Imperial ↗