Rua do Catete, Heritage street in Catete, Brazil.

Rua do Catete runs through Glória and Catete in Rio de Janeiro, divided into two sections: one from Largo da Glória to Rua Pedro Américo, the other from the Presidente Tancredo Neves public school to Glória. It follows the old Caminho do Catete, a route that existed before the Portuguese and French arrived in the 16th century.

The street began as an indigenous path that existed before Portuguese and French settlers arrived in the 1500s. In the 1900s it became the seat of federal government before the capital relocated to Brasilia in 1960.

The street takes its name from the Tupi language, referring to water from the original forest. This linguistic origin reflects the indigenous roots of the area and remains visible in how locals speak about the neighborhood.

Two metro stations, Catete and Largo do Machado, offer direct access to the street. It is best to walk it early in the day when traffic is lighter and architectural details are easier to spot.

The Palácio do Catete still stands on the street and served as the seat of the federal government from the proclamation of the Republic until the capital moved to Brasília in 1960. Its grounds were later opened as the Museu da República, so visitors can walk the rooms where presidents governed.