Paco Imperial (Imperial Palace), Rio de Janeiro

The Paco Imperial was previously known as the Royal Palace of Rio de Janeiro and the Palace of the Viceroys. It was built in 1743 as the Governor's House. The Paco Imperial is built in the baroque style with an impressive portal made from Portuguese marble. The palace also has several inner courtyards.

In 1763, the Portuguese colonial government transferred from Salvador to Rio de Janeiro, and the building became the Viceroy's Palace. In 1808, the Prince Regent (later King John VI) arrived in Brazil to escape Napoleon. At that time, the building became the Royal Palace. King John VI, Pedro I, and Pedro II were all crowned at the Paco Imperial.

In 1822, Brazil gained independence from Portugal and became the Empire of Brazil. The building was named the Imperial Palace. In 1888, Imperial Princess Isabel signed the Lei Auera, or Golden Law here. This law abolished slavery in Brazil. When Brazil became a republic in 1889, the building was used as Rio de Janeiro's central mail office. Today, it is a cultural center with art exhibits. The Paulo Santos library is also housed here.

Tip:
From the small courtyard, where there is a fairly good "bistro", take the stairwell to where there are some models showing what the local area looked like over time as well as a large, very modern exhibition area displaying modern art.