| Rio de Janeiro - Others - Catete Palace |
Important scenario of Brazil’s politic history, the Catete’s Palace was used as
official residence of Brazil’s Presidents until the construction of Brasilia, when the seat of the Federal Government was transferred from Rio
de Janeiro to the recently inaugurated city. Since the 60’s, Catete’s Palace started to house the Republic’s Museum.
Portuguese Baron Antonio Clemente Pinto, who decided to move to Rio de Janeiro in
the final of the 19th century, built Catete’s Palace. He wished a house in accord to his prestige and social status, so he decided to build his
own residence.
The land in Catete’s street was bought in 1858 and, subsequently, other lands, to
the gardens, were incorporated to the main one. Beside slaves, workers of several nationalities - engineers, architects and painters - worked at
the construction of the luxurious residence. It took about one decade until Catete’s Palace got ready to receive the baron’s family, in 1866.
However, the baron and his wife didn’t have much time to use it. The couple died
soon after the moving and their sons inherited the Catete’s Palace. In 1889, none of the baron’s family members continued to live in the palace
and, since then, the place was sold again and again several times until, in 1896, the Federal Government bought Catete’s Palace.
One year later, the building was reformed and became the seat of the Republic’s
Executive Power until the completion of Brasilia. With Brasilia’s inauguration at the beginning of the 60’s, Catete’s Palace became the Republic’s
Museum.
The National Artistic and Historic Patrimony Institute register Catete’s Palace.
Address: Rua do Catete, 153.
Phone: 55-21-2558-6350 |
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