This plaque is part of the 'Praça XV' circuit. Click here to see more about this and other circuits.
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 da Ribeira - the monarchs' residence in Lisbon – to design the project that marked the beginning of a series of works and constructions responsible for revitalizing what is now Praça XV.
Image description: This is a painting depicting a historic city. On the left side, we see a river with several boats floating on it. In front, there is a large building with a dome and towers. In the center, there is a wide open space with people walking and stopped carriages. In the background, several old buildings and churches are visible. The predominant color is the blue of the sky, contrasting with the lighter tones of the clouds.O Paço da Ribeira, que serviu de inspiração a Alpoim, no século XVIII, antes do terremoto que devastou Lisboa em 1755. Imagem em domínio público
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. To that end, it was adapted to house the numerous court that came along with Dom João VI.
Image description: This is a black-and-white engraving depicting the Praça do Paço Imperial in Rio de Janeiro. On the left side, we see historic buildings with ornamented façades and regular windows. In the center, there is an imperial palace with classical architecture, standing out for its columns and architectural details. On the right, a large church rises with domes and towers, characteristic of baroque architecture. In front of the palace, people walk and ride horses, while carriages are parked. The sky is cloudy, giving the scene a somber tone. In the lower right corner is written "Ed. Willmann sc." and in the background, "RIO DE JANEIRO PALAIS IMPERIAL ET CATHÉDRALE".O Paço Imperial e a Catedral de Nossa Senhora do Carmo da Antiga Sé no século XIX. Gravura de Eduard Willmann. Acervo BN Digital
Starting with Independence (1822), the palace was transformed into the Paço Imperial, serving as an administrative seat (from where the Emperor governed) and a space for festivities and official events. It was the stage 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).
After the Proclamation of the Republic (1889), the Paço became the headquarters of the Post and Telegraph Office. In 1938, it was listed as a heritage site by IPHAN, and after a restoration in the 1980s, it became the Paço Imperial Cultural Center. It is 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 visual arts, architecture and urban planning, and the history of Brazil, Portugal, and Rio de Janeiro.
Image description: The image shows two logos. On the left side, there is a blue shield with a crown and decorative elements, followed by the text "Rio Prefeitura Turismo" in blue. On the right side, there is a logo with the phrase "Rio Memórias" in orange, inside a square with vertical lines.
