Castle Map

Palace

Palace of the Lions

Brazil

Architect
Roberto Burle Marx
Location
São Luís
Coordinates
-2.52701°, -44.30679°
Links
Wikimedia Commons
Open on the map →Wikipedia (PT) ↗
Palace of the Lions in Brazil
Photo: Léo Brégula from Campinas, Brasil · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Description

The Palácio dos Leões is a historic building located in São Luís, capital of Maranhão, in Brazil. It is the seat of the state Executive Power and the official residence of the governor of the state. Situated on the Praça Dom Pedro II, in the historic core of the city, the palace occupies an elevated position facing the Bay of São Marcos, close to the mouth of the rivers Anil and Bacanga.

The history of the building is linked to the foundation of São Luís, to the Portuguese occupation of Maranhão and to the establishment of the colonial administration. The site initially housed the Fort of São Luís, built by the French in 1612. After the Portuguese conquest of the city, in 1615, the space was incorporated into the administrative structure of the territory. The residence of the governors underwent successive reconstructions, notable among them the work ordered by Joaquim de Melo e Póvoas, completed in 1776.

The building displays characteristics of Neoclassical architecture and brings together construction elements of different periods. Over the course of the 19th and 20th centuries, it underwent extensions, renovations and alterations to its façade. Among the most significant interventions are the works carried out at the end of the 20th century, with a restoration project associated with the architects Acácio Gil Borsoi and Janete Costa.

The palace also houses an artistic and historical collection made up of paintings, furniture, porcelain, sculptures, silverware and engravings. Part of the state rooms is open to public visits, and the institution maintains a digital collection of cultural assets.

Machine-translated from “Palácio dos Leões” on the Portuguese Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

In the rankings

Palace of the Lions ranks #6,607 of 9,902 worldwide in the atlas's castle fame ranking, and #27 of the 81 mapped in Brazil. Its Wikipedia articles were opened 1,111 times in the last 60 days, more than 58% of the atlas. 2 more atlas landmarks stand within 25 km. See how Brazil compares in the castle statistics.

Castles nearby

More castles in Brazil