Paço Imperial, Historical museum in Centro district, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Paço Imperial is a baroque colonial museum in Centro, Rio de Janeiro, that once served as the administrative seat of the Portuguese crown. The rectangular building of pale stone rises two stories and encloses two interior courtyards with large windows facing Praça XV.
Construction began in 1743 as the seat of Portuguese governors and later served as residence of the Brazilian imperial family until the monarchy ended in 1889. After years as a post office, the building was restored in the 1980s and reopened as a cultural space.
The building carries a name that recalls its time as an imperial residence and now hosts rotating art exhibitions visited by local artists and casual visitors alike. In the rooms surrounding the inner courtyards, regular cultural events create space for artistic encounters.
The museum stands directly on Praça XV in the historic center and opens Tuesday through Sunday from midday to early evening, with free entry. The rooms are on ground level or accessible by ramps, making the building reachable for wheelchair users.
Inside, traces of the original tile floors and carved wooden doors remain from the time of Portuguese rule. The facade was rebuilt several times, losing its original balconies and gaining a simpler form in the 19th century.
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