Palacio do Campo das Princesas (Princesses' Court Palace), Recife

Palácio do Campo das Princesas has served as the seat of Pernambuco’s Executive Branch since 1841. Designed by Morais Âncora under Governor Francisco do Rego Barros, it replaced the former Royal Treasury. Its name was adopted in 1859 after a visit by Emperor Dom Pedro II, first referring to the gardens used by the princesses. The site also stands where the Friburgo Palace once housed John Maurice of Nassau during the Dutch occupation.

The construction of the palace marked a return to Portuguese-Brazilian administrative control after the Dutch period. Originally neoclassical in design, it was remodeled between 1918 and 1922 with eclectic features, including a third floor and more detailed ornamentation. It faces a public square shared with the Santa Isabel Theater and the Palace of Justice (Recife), forming a civic and cultural complex.

Its setting is defined by nearby waterways, positioned where the Capibaribe and Beberibe rivers meet. In front of the palace stands a large baobab tree, often linked to Antoine de Saint-Exupéry and The Little Prince. Although still used for government work, parts of the interior are occasionally open, showing ceremonial rooms with high ceilings, wooden floors, and decorative plasterwork.