Fazenda do Engenho d’ Água, Historic sugar mill estate house in Gardênia Azul, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Fazenda do Engenho d'Água, also called Solar dos Viscondes de Asseca, is a colonial sugar-mill estate house in Gardênia Azul, Rio de Janeiro. The single-storey building has a partial upper floor forming a belvedere, with verandas on the front and rear facades. A domestic chapel stands to the left of the house, keeping only its original window frames.

The current building was rebuilt in the early 17th century by Salvador Correa de Sá e Benevides, three-time governor of the Rio de Janeiro captaincy and later governor of Angola. It passed to Crown nobles, including Martim Correa de Sá, 1st Viscount of Asseca. In 1852 the Telles de Meneses family bought it; its last owner was Francisco Pinto da Fonseca Telles, Baron of Taquara. IPHAN listed it in 1938.

The domestic chapel keeps its original window frames, while the main veranda shows bricks carved with the old Engenho d'Água inscription. These details show how Portuguese families expressed their faith and identity within their homes.

The estate house stands between the Estrada do Gabinal do Engenho d'Água and Rua Egard Werneck, in Gardênia Azul, reached from Estrada Marechal Miguel Salazar Mendes de Moraes. The building has no historical signage, so look for the colonial house on the hilltop. Visits depend on the managing body; confirm access in advance.

The steps leading to the veranda are decorated with tiles showing a castle, reflecting Portuguese architectural style brought to colonial Brazil. These artistic details were signs of the family's wealth and Portuguese heritage.