Palacio de López

Palacio de los López (Spanish for Palace of the López), officially titled Palacio de Gobierno (Palace of Government) is a neoclassical manor in Asunción, Paraguay, that serves as a workplace for the President of Paraguay, and as the seat of the government of Paraguay. The president does not reside in the palace, and is instead housed at Mburuvicha Róga (Guarani for House of the Chief), some 2.5 km to the southeast.

Located in the center of Asunción, overlooking Asunción Bay, Palacio de los López was built by order of Carlos Antonio López, the first Paraguyan head of state to hold the title of President, per the constitution of 1844. The dictator envisioned a López dynasty, and he intended for the palace to house his son and designated successor, General Francisco Solano López, which gives rise to the palace's name. Ultimately, Solano López never resided there.

Construction of the palace began in 1857 under the direction of the English architect Alonso Taylor, and was substantially completed by 1867. The War of the Triple Alliance compelled Solano López to seek refuge with the government in Ñeembucú. Brazilian and Argentine forces sacked Asunción in January 1869, damaging the palace's exterior and looting ornaments and furniture. The allies housed troops there throughout their seven-year occupation of Paraguay, leaving the building derelict by 1876.

President Juan Gualberto González, on taking office in 1890, strove to restore the palace and complete what had been left undone in 1867, but a coup halted his progress. Juan Bautista Egusquiza finally finished the work in 1894 and became the first head of state to establish his administration and residence there. The palace remained the official residence of the president until the mid-20th century. November 1942 saw the move to Mburuvicha Róga by decree of President Higinio Morínigo.

Text adapted from “Palacio de los López” on Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Palacio de López ranks #686 of 7,738 worldwide in the atlas's castle fame ranking. Founded 1892 — one of 562 atlas entries founded in the 19th century. Its Wikipedia articles were opened 5,913 times in the last 60 days, more than 87% of the atlas. See how Paraguay compares in the castle statistics.

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