at a glance

The Square also hosts an historic fountain, which is a most interesting example of architecture from the colonial period, made of carved stone, and called the 'Chafariz da Pirâmide'.

Perhaps most significantly, the Square boasts the Paço Imperial  (Imperial Palace), built in 1738, which was home to King John VI of Portugal on his arrival to Brazil in 1808.

It is considered one of the most important colonial civil buildings in the country - After Brazilian independence the building became an Imperial Palace, and became the residence of emperor dom Pedro I and dom pedro II.

In was also in this palace that Princess Isabel signed the Lei Áurea, or 'Golden Law', freeing the slaves, and, in 1840, it was the first place to be photographed in Latin America.