french architect and urban planner, alfredo crouch, designed the square after being invited to travel to rio, in 1927. it was made with a symmetrical composition, and was considered to be one of the masterpieces of the late belle époque period.

as the epicenter of the city's culture, a vast majority of the monuments in rio de janeiro are located in the downtown neighborhood of the city, known as centro. so pronounced is centro's cultural and artistic dominance, that over 40 percent of all of rio's statues and monuments are located here, filling it with public art, and sites of historical importance.

the highest proportion of monuments in the city honor artists and writers, with a staggering 22 percent of rio's monuments dedicated to these influential individuals. far more than the second most represented group - politicians, with 18 percent, perhaps an indication of carioca priorities.