Palácio do Vice Governador, Vice-governor palace in Floresta neighborhood, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
The Palácio do Vice-Governador, known as Palacinho, is an eclectic building with predominantly neoclassical elements at Avenida Cristóvão Colombo 300, on a corner in the Floresta neighborhood. Its narrow main facade has a large arched doorway with heavy wrought-iron grille bearing the state coat of arms and the inscription GABINETE DO VICE-GOVERNADOR, flanked by tall arched windows that continue with balconies along the side facade. A large cornice supported by volutes crowns the two floors.
The palace was constructed in 1926 by Italian engineer Armando Boni as a residence for merchant Santo Meneghetti. It was designed with the intention of accommodating Count Galezzo Ciano during his South American travels.
Since September 2017 the state government has ceded the building to the Fundação da Orquestra Sinfônica de Porto Alegre, which runs its administrative headquarters and a music school here. The wrought-iron gate of the main entrance carries the state coat of arms and the inscription GABINETE DO VICE-GOVERNADOR. The building is no longer a residence: it holds only the vice-governor's office and rooms linked to the vice-governorship.
The palace stands at Avenida Cristóvão Colombo 300, on a corner in the Floresta neighbourhood. Since 2017 it has been ceded to the Fundação da Orquestra Sinfônica de Porto Alegre, which runs its administrative offices and a music school there. The building is not a museum with regular public exhibition rooms; access is tied to the foundation's activities. A 2003 restoration recovered the frescoes, French stained glass, marbles and facade, but work on energy, security and disabled access was never completed.
The building received protected heritage status from the Institute of Historical and Artistic Heritage of Rio Grande do Sul in 1996. This recognition reflects its importance as a key example of eclectic architecture in the region.
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