Praça XV & Paço Imperial
Praça XV de Novembro / Paço Imperial
The square where the colonial governor's palace and the royal palace stood. It is a key stage of Brazilian history.
Praça XV is one of Rio's oldest squares. It is named after November 15, 1889, the day the Brazilian Republic was proclaimed. The Paço Imperial beside the square was built in the 18th century. It served successively as the Portuguese governor's palace, the royal palace when the Portuguese court was exiled in Brazil, and the imperial palace of the Brazilian Empire. In 1888, Princess Isabel signed the Golden Law abolishing slavery here. Today the Paço Imperial is a free cultural center that often hosts art exhibitions. Around the square are the Old Cathedral, the Arcos dos Teles alley and the Niterói ferry terminal. It is closed on Mondays. The square is about a 15-minute walk from the Museum of Tomorrow, and the VLT light rail stops at Praça XV station.
Opening hours
Imperial Palace Tue-Sun 12:00-18:00 (check official site)
Nearby sights
- Confeitaria Colombo
- National Museum of Fine Arts
- Theatro Municipal do Rio de Janeiro
- Monastery of São Bento
- Real Gabinete Português de Leitura
- Metropolitan Cathedral of Rio de Janeiro
- Ilha Fiscal
- Museu do Amanhã / Porto Maravilha