Catete

Welcome to the Catete Palace, a building that served as the nerve center of Brazilian political life for nearly seven decades. Located in the historic neighborhood of Catete, very close to the metro, this palace is also known as…

As you enter the grounds, notice the heavy, classical lines of the palace exterior, a statement of permanence and prestige. The ground floor of the palace was traditionally the 'service floor.' This was the realm of the domestic…

Ascending to the second floor, we enter the most opulent part of the palace, the area where the Baron of Nova Friburgo—and later the presidents—held their formal parties, balls, and receptions. This floor is a fascinating journey…

The third floor of the palace was the private domain of the presidents and their families. This is where the official residence was located, and it offers a more intimate look at the lives of Brazil's leaders. …

The most significant room on the third floor is undoubtedly the bedroom of President Getúlio Vargas. It was in this room, on the morning of August 24, 1954, that Vargas took his own life with a single gunshot to the heart. …

Stepping out of the palace and into the gardens, you find yourself in one of the most peaceful spots in Rio de Janeiro. The garden of the Catete Palace is a masterwork of landscape design, centered around a stunning alley of tall…

Just behind the palace gardens lies the Aterro do Flamengo, a massive urban park and coastal area that is integral to the Catete experience. Designed by the landscape architect Roberto Burle Marx in the 1960s, this park was…

As we leave the Catete Palace and its verdant gardens, we take with us a complex tapestry of Brazilian history. We have seen the incredible heights of private wealth that built these walls and the immense political power that…