Palácio do Itamaraty, Rio de Janeiro

The Itamaraty Palace is a significant 19th-century structure with both historical and artistic importance situated in Rio de Janeiro. It was constructed between 1851 and 1855 by Francisco José da Rocha Leão, the Count of Itamarati and the son of the first Baron of Itamarati. The palace's floor plan was initially credited to two anonymous French architects, but the main building is officially attributed to Brazilian architect José Maria Jacinto Rebelo, a disciple of Grandjean de Montigny and a prominent architect of the era.

This Neoclassical palace is characterized by its strict symmetry and possesses the elegant proportions typical of Jacinto Rebelo's architectural style. Behind the main building, there is a water feature surrounded by imperial palm trees. Between 1927 and 1930, architects from France, Scotland, and Austria renovated courtyard structures in a neoclassical Beaux-Arts style.

A competition sponsored by the Brazilian Institute of Architects led to the design of the library within the palace, which was executed between 1928 and 1930 by Robert Prentice and Anton Floderer. This library was intended to house the archives and maps donated to the government by the Baron of Rio Branco. Joseph Gire also contributed to the project by designing the architrave, access galleries to the halls, and alterations to the facade.

Today, the palace serves as the official representation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Rio de Janeiro. It houses various collections, including those of the Historical and Diplomatic Museum, Historical Archives, and the Map Library. Additionally, it accommodates the United Nations (UN) Information Office in Brazil and the Center for History and Diplomatic Documentation of the Alexandre de Gusmão Foundation.

In 1938, the Itamaraty Palace was recognized as the eighth historical monument in Brazil.