Praça XV de Novembro

Welcome to Praça XV de Novembro, the symbolic and literal 'birthplace' of Rio de Janeiro as an imperial capital. As a scholar of political history, I invite you to stand at the center of this square and realize that you are…

The most significant structure on the square is the Paço Imperial, or the Imperial Palace. Completed in 1743, it originally served as the residence for the Governors of the Captaincy of Rio de Janeiro and later as the Mint and…

Near the water's edge stands the Chafariz do Mestre Valentim, a masterpiece of colonial engineering and art completed in 1789. Mestre Valentim was Brazil's first great sculptor and architect of African descent, and this fountain…

On the corner of the square, near the Rua Primeiro de Março, stands the Convent and Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel (Convento do Carmo). This building holds a crucial link to our earlier exploration of the National Library. …

Overlooking the square is the Tiradentes Palace, a grand Neoclassical building inaugurated in 1926 on the site of the former 'Cadeia Velha' (Old Jail). The name honors Tiradentes, the martyr of the Inconfidência Mineira, who was…

The eastern side of the square is defined by the modern Estação Praça XV ferry terminal. For over a century, these 'barcas' have been the primary link between Rio and the city of Niteroi across the bay. …

Every Saturday, the square undergoes a cultural transformation as it hosts the Feira de Antiguidades da Praça XV. This is one of the largest antiques markets in Latin America, where hundreds of vendors display everything from…

As our tour of Praça XV de Novembro concludes, take a final look around this historic stage. We have seen the palaces of emperors, the fountains of master sculptors, and the jails of revolutionaries. …