National Congress Palace, Parliament building in Brasília, Brazil
The National Congress Palace is a concrete parliament building in Brasília with two distinctive domes and two tall towers rising between them. The upward-facing dome houses the Chamber of Deputies, while the downward-facing dome contains the Senate, both connected by a low platform.
Oscar Niemeyer designed the structure as part of the new federal capital that opened in April 1960. The architecture follows the modernist style of the international school characteristic of Brasília.
The name National Congress Palace refers to the two chambers of the Brazilian parliament, each meeting under one of the two domes. Brazilian artists created murals and sculptures for the interiors that visitors can view while walking through the corridors and halls.
Guided tours show the main rooms of both chambers and offer views of the building interiors. Visitors should note that security checks are common and certain areas are only accessible at set times.
The two towers between the domes reach a height of 28 stories and mark the eastern end of the city's monumental axis. This arrangement creates a symmetrical composition visible from different points around the area.
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