The Guanabara Palace in Rio de Janeiro was originally of neoclassical design, its construction started by the Portuguese José Machado Coelho in 1853, initially serving as a private residence until the 1860s. In 1865, it became the residence of Princess Isabel and her husband, the Count d’Eu, hence known as the Paço Isabel.

The Guanabara Palace in Rio de Janeiro

The property belonged to the emperial family until the coup of 1889 when it was seized by the military government and transferred to federal ownership by a decree in 1891. In 1908, during the celebrations of the centenary of the arrival of the Portuguese court in Brazil, a new renovation was undertaken, giving the palace eclectic characteristics.


The Guanabara Palace in Rio de Janeiro The Guanabara Palace in Rio de Janeiro The Guanabara Palace in Rio de Janeiro The Guanabara Palace in Rio de Janeiro The Guanabara Palace in Rio de Janeiro

The Guanabara Palace in Rio de Janeiro The Guanabara Palace in Rio de Janeiro The Guanabara Palace in Rio de Janeiro The Guanabara Palace in Rio de Janeiro

The palace was used by Getúlio Vargas as his official residence during the Estado Novo (1937-1945) and was attacked during the uprising of the Integralist Action.

Brazilian History
Matheus Araújo
Founder and Editor at Brazilian History | Website

Matheus is an entrepreneur at Araujo Media, where he serves as CEO and Creative Director. He shares analyses on his personal blog "matheusaraujo.me" and is currently pursuing a degree in Advertising and Propaganda. Moreover, he has a passion for history, particularly that of Brazil, which led him to become the founder and editor of the Brazilian History portal.