PaçoImperial

Between the 18th and 19th centuries, the Paço Imperial was used as the House of the Governors, of the Viceroys, residence of the Royal Family, and administrative headquarters of the city.

Renovated at the request of Governor Gomes Freire de Andrade (Count of Bobadela), the building was inaugurated in 1743 to house the Casa dos Governadores. The Portuguese engineer José Alpoim drew inspiration from the Paço das Ribeiras - residence of the monarchs in Lisbon – to develop the project that marked the beginning of a series of works and constructions responsible for the revitalization of today's Praça XV.

Image description: This is a detailed painting of a historic square. On the left side, we see a building with several windows and balconies. In the center, there is a palace with classical architecture, standing out for its wide, symmetrical façade. On the right, there is a large church with two tall towers and domes, rising above the other buildings. In front of the palace, people walk and interact, while a few horses stand still. The sky is overcast, giving the scene a gray tone.

In 1763 the city of Rio was elevated to the status of colonial capital, becoming the administrative seat of the viceroyalty and the residence of the Viceroy of Brazil. The Casa dos Governadores then became the Paço dos Vice-Reis. But it was in 1808, with the arrival of the Royal Family, that the building experienced its most prestigious phase: it became the official residence and center of power of the Kingdom and the Empire — the Paço Real — and, for that purpose, it was adapted to house the numerous court that came along with Dom João VI.

Image description: This is a black-and-white illustration depicting a historical event. The scene takes place in front of a building with decorated arches, possibly the Paço Imperial. On the left side, a group of people stands inside an elevated structure, possibly a balcony or platform, where some hold flags and documents. On the right, a crowd gathers in the square, watching attentively. The sky is clear, and there is a house in the distance in the background.

Starting with Independence (1822), the palace became the Paço Imperial, serving as the administrative seat (from where the Emperor governed) and a venue for festivities and official events. It was the setting for important historical events such as the "Dia do Fico" (1822), when D. Pedro declared to the people gathered in the street his intention to remain in Brazil, and the signing of the Lei Áurea by Princess Isabel (1888).

Image description: This is a photograph of an inner courtyard of a historic building. The image shows a wide view of the courtyard, with two-story structures surrounding it. The walls are white and feature windows with metal railings on the balconies. In the center of the courtyard, there is an opening that allows natural light to enter. On the left, a person is sitting on the ground, apparently engaged in conversation. The sky is blue with some scattered clouds.

After the Proclamation of the Republic (1889), the Paço became the headquarters of the Correios e Telégrafos. In 1938 it was designated a heritage site by IPHAN, and after a restoration in the 1980s, it became the Centro Cultural Paço Imperial, a space for exhibitions and events that features a bistro, a restaurant, and, on the 1st floor, the Paulo Santos library, with a collection made up of titles on Fine Arts, Arquitetura e Urbanismo, and the History of Brazil, Portugal, and Rio de Janeiro.