adjacent to the plaza is the paço imperial (imperial palace), built during brazil's days as a portuguese colony to house the rulers of the time.

more architecture from this era can be found on the other side of praça quinze through the arco de teles, a 300 year old arch that leads to the travessa do comércio, an alley lined with colonial-style buildings that later became the residence of carmen miranda. at the other end of the travessa is the intersection with rua do ouvidor, one of rio's most historical streets.