Reflecting pool
Imperial palms.
Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia e Inovações from Brasília - DF, Brasil — CC BY 2.0 · Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia e Inovações from Brasília - DF, Brasil — CC BY 2.0 · Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia e Inovações from Brasília - DF, Brasil — CC BY 2.0 · Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia e Inovações from Brasília - DF, Brasil — CC BY 2.0 · Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia e Inovações from Brasília - DF, Brasil — CC BY 2.0 · Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia e Inovações from Brasília - DF, Brasil — CC BY 2.0 · Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia e Inovações from Brasília - DF, Brasil — CC BY 2.0
The Itamaraty Palace is a 19th-century building of great historic and artistic value in central Rio de Janeiro. It was built between 1851 and 1855 by Francisco José da Rocha Leão, Count of Itamaraty, to a design by the Brazilian architect José Maria Jacinto Rebelo, a pupil of the French architect Grandjean de Montigny. The neoclassical palace is strictly symmetrical and nobly proportioned, and behind the main building lies a reflecting pool flanked by imperial palms. It was a noble residence, then the seat of the first republican government from 1889 to 1898, and the home of Brazil's Ministry of Foreign Affairs until 1970, when it moved to Brasília. Its name is of Tupi origin, with readings from «river of small stones» to «white stone». Today it houses the Historical and Diplomatic Museum, a historical archive, a map library and a centre for diplomatic history, and a project is under way to expand the exhibition halls and redesign the gardens. Check whether and when it is open.
Imperial palms.
Symmetrical.
Museum and archive.
Central Rio de Janeiro
Estação Central do BrasilCentral do Brasil is one of Brazil's most famous railway stations, in central Ri5 minutes walk4.0
Campo de SantanaCampo de Santana is the park in Praça da República in central Rio, near the spot5 minutes walk4.0
Royal Portuguese Cabinet of ReadingThe Royal Portuguese Cabinet of Reading, the Real Gabinete, is one of the most b8 minutes walk4.9
Teatro João CaetanoThe João Caetano Theatre is Rio de Janeiro's oldest playhouse, opened by King Jo9 minutes walk4.7
Valongo WharfValongo Wharf looks like a patch of old paving stones exposed in Rio's port dist9 minutes walk4.5It was the ministry's seat in Rio from the late 19th century until 1970.