Araguaia Palace
Seat of government.
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The Sunflower Square is the main square of Palmas, capital of Tocantins and Brazil's newest state capital. It opened in 1991 as the decision-making centre of the new state government and is described as one of the largest squares in the world. The city's story began here, with its foundation stone laid on 20 May 1989. At its heart stands the Araguaia Palace, the state government seat, opened on 9 March 1991; the capital's streets and avenues were laid out from it. Its facades are framed by friezes of 144 two-metre panels telling each step of the state's creation, golden sculptures of the state arms crown the roof, and its arches echo a historic church in the town of Natividade. In its hall visitors pose at the geodesic centre point of Brazil. The square has about a dozen attractions telling the story of Tocantins, including bronze statues of a pioneer family, a lit fountain with 15-metre jets, a sundial, a square honouring the indigenous peoples and the Prestes Column memorial by Oscar Niemeyer.
Seat of government.
15-metre jets.
Prestes Column.
Central Palmas, Tocantins
Panels on the state's history and the geodesic centre point of Brazil.