Paço de São Cristóvão
| Paço de São Cristóvão | |
|---|---|
The main façade of the palace in mid-2009.
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| General information | |
| Architectural style | Neoclassical |
| Town or city | Rio de Janeiro |
| Country | Brazil |
| Coordinates | 22°54′20″S 43°13′33″W / 22.90556°S 43.22583°WCoordinates: 22°54′20″S 43°13′33″W / 22.90556°S 43.22583°W |
| Construction started | 1803 |
Paço de São Cristóvão (Portuguese pronunciation: [ˈpasu dʒi sɐ̃w kɾiʃˈtɔvɐ̃w], English: Saint Christopher's Palace; also known as Palácio Imperial or Palácio de São Cristóvão) is a palace located in the Quinta da Boa Vista park in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It is the former residence of the Emperors of Brazil. It currently houses the National Museum of Brazil.
In the early 19th century, the area known as Quinta da Boa Vista (Good View Estate) belonged to Elias Antun Lubos, Elias António Lopes in portuguese, a rich Lebanesemerchant, who in 1803 built a manor house on top of a hill. When the Portuguese court was transferred to Brazil, in 1808, Elias António Lopes donated his farm to the Prince Regent John VI. John VI appreciated the gift and stayed for long periods in the manor house.
The Portuguese Royal Family had been living in the Paço Imperial since their arrival in Rio de Janeiro in 1808. To better accommodate the royal family, in 1819 John VI had the manor house of the Quinta da Boa Vista renovated, transforming it into a royal palace. The renovation was directed by English architect John Johnston and was completed in 1821. In front of the palace, Johnston installed a decorative portico, a gift sent from England to Brazil by Hugh Percy, 2nd Duke of Northumberland.
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