Pedro Ernesto Palace / City Council, Rio de Janeiro

The Pedro Ernesto Palace is one of the most imposing civic buildings in downtown Rio and a defining feature of Cinelandia Square. Completed in 1923, the building serves as the seat of Rio’s City Council.

Architecturally, the palace is an excellent example of French Beaux-Arts design, reflecting the city’s ambition to present itself as a modern capital modeled on European ideals. Its grand façade is highly symmetrical: a broad staircase leads to the first level with three arched entrances, above which rise ten monumental columns on the second level. Two symmetrical towers flank the structure.

The palace quickly became one of the most photographed buildings in Rio de Janeiro, though its beauty came at a considerable cost. Historian Brasil Gérson famously referred to it as a “golden cage,” noting that its construction cost twice as much as the nearby Municipal Theatre.

Visitors are welcome to explore the interior through guided tours. Inside, the building reveals a lavish world of early 20th-century civic grandeur, featuring a sweeping staircase with ornate floral handrails, marble floors, and richly decorated lounges adorned with sculptures and paintings.

For a final impression, the Pedro Ernesto Palace is especially worth seeing illuminated at night, when its architectural details stand out against the backdrop of Cinelandia Square.