Obelisco da Avenida Rio Branco, Historical obelisk in Centro district, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

The Obelisco da Avenida Rio Branco is a granite structure located on one of the main streets through downtown Rio de Janeiro. The monument stands about 18 meters tall and carries inscriptions marking the street's urban modernization.

The monument was presented to the city by businessman Antonio Januzzi in 1906 during a period when Rio de Janeiro was transforming its downtown. This was a time of major construction and urban renewal in the city center.

The obelisk was created by artist Eduardo de Sa and stands as a symbol of local architectural heritage. Today it remains protected and is maintained as an important part of the city's identity.

The monument stands at an intersection of major streets downtown and serves as a useful reference point for orientation. The area is easily accessible on foot and the structure is visible from multiple angles.

The poet Manuel Bandeira wrote a poem titled "O Obelisco" about this monument, noting that it did not come from Egypt like the one in Paris's Place de la Concorde. He also recorded that it had been dressed as a baiana during Carnival and had its needle-like tip broken.