Palácio Tiradentes, Rio de Janeiro

Palácio Tiradentes, Rio de Janeiro

The Tiradentes Palace, located in the Centro neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro, was officially opened on May 6, 1926. It served as the former headquarters for the Chamber of Deputies of Brazil from 1926 to 1960 and currently houses the Legislative Assembly of the State of Rio de Janeiro. This grand structure replaced a previous building that had occupied the same location. The initial construction, known as the House of Chamber and Jail, was commissioned by the local government of Rio de Janeiro back in 1631.

The older imperial building was demolished in 1922 to make way for the Tiradentes Palace, an imposing edifice designed in the eclectic architectural style by Archimedes Memoria and Francisque Couchet. It was named in honor of Tiradentes, who was executed for his involvement in a conspiracy against the Portuguese crown in 1789, aimed at establishing a republic in Minas Gerais.

The architectural style of the building predominantly exhibits eclecticism, incorporating classical and Renaissance elements. In front of the palace stands a prominent statue of Tiradentes, created by sculptor Francisco de Andrade, which mirrors the portrayal of Tiradentes as a Christian martyr-like figure as depicted by the painter Décio Villares.

In 1960, the Tiradentes Palace became the home of the Legislative Assembly of the State of Guanabara, which existed from 1960 to 1975. Subsequently, it transitioned to housing the Legislative Assembly of the State of Rio de Janeiro, a role it continues to fulfill to this day. Notably, all Brazilian presidents from 1926 to 1960 took their oath of office at the Tiradentes Palace, starting with Washington Luís, who was the first to do so, and concluding with Juscelino Kubitschek.

Why You Should Visit:
The admire beautiful architecture while learning about a piece of Rio.
You can have a guided tour in Portuguese, but also in English, and it's for free.
During the tour you gain access to areas normally not accessible for the general public.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Rio de Janeiro. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

Download The GPSmyCity App

Palácio Tiradentes on Map

Sight Name: Palácio Tiradentes
Sight Location: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (See walking tours in Rio de Janeiro)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark

Walking Tours in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Create Your Own Walk in Rio de Janeiro

Create Your Own Walk in Rio de Janeiro

Creating your own self-guided walk in Rio de Janeiro is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Rio de Janeiro Introduction Walking Tour

Rio de Janeiro Introduction Walking Tour

Rio de Janeiro is the capital city of the state of Rio de Janeiro. It was founded in 1565 by the Portuguese. It was the capital of the State of Brazil of the Portuguese Empire from 1763 until 1822.

When Brazil became independent of Portugal in 1822, Rio de Janeiro became the capital of the Empire of Brazil. In 1889, Brazil became a republican nation, with Rio de Janeiro as its capital. But in...  view more

Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.0 Km or 2.5 Miles
Rio's Top Religious Sites

Rio's Top Religious Sites

Due to the legacy of the Portuguese in language, religion, and law, Rio de Janeiro has had a rich and influential Catholic tradition. Until the mid-20th century almost all Brazilians were – at least nominally – Catholic, and today the country’s religious sites, both classic and modern, impress with their skill, creativity and devotion.

Founded in 1590 by Benedictine monks from Bahia, the...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.0 Km or 1.9 Miles
Rio de Janeiro Beach Walk

Rio de Janeiro Beach Walk

The Copacabana and Ipanema beaches are two of the main reasons Rio is so famous around the world. While Copacabana is a year-round tourist hub, famed for its incredible New Year’s Eve celebrations, the Ipanema and Leblon neighborhoods have the cleanest, safest, most beautiful beaches in the city, and are the favorite playgrounds of Rio de Janeiro’s upper-middle class.

Start your tour with a...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.9 Km or 3 Miles

Useful Travel Guides for Planning Your Trip


16 Uniquely Brazilian Souvenirs to Bring Home from Rio de Janeiro

16 Uniquely Brazilian Souvenirs to Bring Home from Rio de Janeiro

Other than the sun, passion and football, for which Brazil is renowned and which cannot be fitted into one's luggage, picking a memorable gift from Rio is a tough job. And this is not because of the lack of suitable things to choose from, but because of their abundance. Indeed, there're...