at a glance

It is now an important Cultural Center, hosting seminars, live music, theater and exhibitions. It also features an art and architecture library, the Biblioteca Paulo Santos, and several bookstores. The limestone building is adorned by a number of patios and beautiful staircases.

One of the rooms, called the Pátio dos Arqueiros, or 'Court of the Arches' still contains original decoration from the 1840s - the Paço imperial maintains an official website on this link, and can be reached via phone at 21 2533.4359, or via email here.

facing Praça XV de Novembro is  ilha fiscal (fiscal island) - it is part of the complexo cultural do Patrimônio Histórico e Documentação da Marinha - DPHDM, the brazilian navy's cultural institution, which includes such landmark locations as the Espaço Cultural da Marinha (navy's cultural area),  Nau dos Descobrimentos (a replica of a colonial ship), the Submarino-Museu Riachuelo (a submarine open to visitations), and the Museu Naval (naval museum).