Main house
Madalena mill.
Sobradomadalena.jpg: Paulo Camelo derivative work: Juniorpetjua — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Ministério da Cultura — CC BY 2.0 · Wilfredor — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Museu da Abolição — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Opaulamay — CC0 · Opaulamay — CC0 · Museu da Abolição — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Opaulamay — CC0
Recife's Museum of Abolition occupies the Sobrado Grande da Madalena, the main house of the Madalena sugar mill, one of the most important in Pernambuco, a building listed by the national heritage institute whose origins go back to the 17th century. The house passed through many owners. In the 19th century it was home to the Baron of Goiana, an abolitionist who helped draft the Golden Law that ended slavery in Brazil in 1888, and renovations in his time gave it its present form. It was also home to João Alfredo, president of the Council of the Empire and a leading abolitionist who helped draft both the Free Womb Law and the Golden Law, so the house is also known as the House of Councillor João Alfredo. After use by the army in the Second World War and by private companies, then long abandonment, it became home to a museum telling the story of slavery and the struggle to abolish it. The colonial house is clad in Portuguese tiles. Check opening times.
Madalena mill.
1888.
On the facade.
Madalena district, Recife
Two leading abolitionists lived here, including João Alfredo, who helped draft the 1888 Golden Law.
