The Palaces in Salvador da Bahia have already received royalty, carry great stories and currently have different functions.
Some palaces are used for wedding parties, others have become beautiful museums and some (a)hold an uncertain future.
Discover the architecture and history of the Palaces in Salvador
Palacio Rio Branco em Salvador
Palácio Rio Branco vira hotel
Palacio da Sé ou Palácio Arquiepiscopal de Salvador02:41
1. Palácio da Aclamação
Considered one of the most significant museums in the city, it was once the residence of Mr Miguel Francisco Rodrigues de Morais, a successful merchant from the city of Ponte de Lima in Portugal.
In 1912, the Palácio da Acclamação was transformed into the official residence of the governors of Bahia, undergoing expansion works designed by the Italian architect Filinto Santoro, and officially occupied by state managers between 1917 and 1967.
The Palace of Acclamation was transformed into the official residence of the governors of Bahia.
Since then, the 19th-century manor house has hosted dispatches from the governor, and even harboured illustrious visitors such as the Queen of England, Elizabeth II, in 1968.
Considered as one of the most significant museums in the city, it was once the residence of Mr Miguel Francisco Rodrigues de Morais, a successful merchant originally from the city of Ponte de Lima in Portugal.
The Palace of Aclamation in Salvador is one of the most significant in the city.
In 1912, the Palácio da Acclamação was transformed into the official residence of the governors of Bahia, undergoing expansion works designed by the Italian architect Filinto Santoro, and officially occupied by the state managers between 1917 and 1967.
Since then, the 19th-century manor house has hosted dispatches from the governor, and even harboured illustrious visitors such as the Queen of England, Elizabeth II, in 1968.
In 1990, it became a museum, and the collection of the space, divided into two floors, includes furniture in the style of King João I and Luiz XV, bronze, crystal and porcelain objects, Persian and French carpets, as well as wall and ceiling paintings created by the Bahian artist Presciliano Silva.
The manor house was once home to despatches from the governor, and has since become a museum.
The palace has a monumental crystal, baccarat and bronze chandelier in the Great Hall, a lobby with neoclassical decoration and a Banqueting Hall. On the upper floor, there is a bedroom, a lunch room, a chapel and a pantry.
The museum is currently undergoing renovations and the exhibition spaces are closed to visitors.
The museum is currently undergoing renovations and the exhibition spaces are closed to visitors.
However, in some of its premises literary launches, musical performances, socio-educational activities, short-term exhibitions and fairs are promoted. In addition, the space is also used for ceremonies such as weddings.
The centre is also used for ceremonies such as weddings.
Visitation: Tuesdays to Sundays, from 1pm to 7pm (when open). Address: Av. Sete de Setembro, 1330 – Campo Grande.
3. Palácio Arquiepiscopal de Salvador ou Palácio da Sé
2. Rio Branco Palace
Joined with the foundation of the City of Salvador, the primitive building was constructed in 1549 under the order of Tomé de Souza, with the aim of housing the seat of the Portuguese government.
The Rio Branco Palace in Salvador was built in 1549 under the order of Tomé de Souza.
The place served as a command centre, residence and official dispatch of the great powers such as governors of Brazil and viceroys. In addition, it received members of the Portuguese royalty such as Emperor Pedro I, Empress Leopoldina, Emperor Pedro II and Empress Tereza Christina.
The site served as a command centre for the great powers such as governors of Brazil and viceroys.
In 1912, the simplest and first building was bombed during the Dutch attack and left in ruins. In 1919, it was reopened in the eclectic architectural style, receiving its current name in honour of the Baron of Rio Branco.
Chrina.
Since then, the site has served as a barracks and prison. It has housed the Pedro Calmon Foundation and now houses the Bahia State Secretariat of Culture, with rich decoration and precious works of art.
The building is now named after the Baron of Rio Branco.
The space also houses the Governors’ Memorial, an important part of the construction of the country’s history.
And you can find diplomas, letters, daggers, insignia, swords, keys to cities, crystal, crockery, books, medals, photos and personal objects such as pens of these personalities, ashtrays and letter openers, all donated by family members.
Curiosities and Rarities of the Rio Branco Palace
Gilded Louis XV-style furniture
Armchairs, coffee tables, sideboards, side tables, chairs and armchairs are still on display in the Salão Nobre
.French crystal mirrors
Framed in plaster painted with gold leaf and French bevelled mirrors.
Pompeian Room
The Pompeian Room is the oldest, it survived the fire of 1911 and the bombing of 1912 – it is a tribute to the civilisation of Pompeii with frescoes and canvases framed by Greek bar – one of them is the mythological Bacchante – priestess of Bacchus.
Acquisition of movable property
1845 items – Most are personal objects of the Bahian rulers given by their relatives.Of these 1845, only 46 pieces are in the inventory of movable property of the Pedro Calmon Foundation. They are: 19 armchairs, 06 mirrors, 05 sideboards, 03 coffee tables, 02 wall paintings (one of them – O Primeiro Passo para a Independência – signed by Antônio Parreiras, from 1930), 01 table and 10 chairs.
The Pedro Calmon Foundation has a large collection of personal belongings.
The Pedro Calmon Foundation was created in 1986 and its purpose is to collect, originate and disseminate the historical and documentary collection of the socio-political memory of Bahia.
The Pedro Calmon Foundation was created in 1986;
Rio Branco Palace will become a super luxury hotel.
The Governors’ Memorial will be kept in its own room, in the hotel of the Rio Branco Palace, under the custody of the Pedro Calmon Foundation, and that the other issues are being evaluated and will be publicised when they receive the property.
[ngg src=”galleries” ids=”4″ display=”basic_thumbnail” thumbnail_crop=”0″]Address: Praça Tomé de Souza, S/N – Centro.
3. Archiepiscopal Palace of Salvador (Palácio Arquiepiscopal de Salvador) or Cathedral Palace
.
Built in the 18th century around a courtyard and located in the Historic Centre of Salvador, the building is considered one of the best examples of civil architecture from the colonial period in the country. Also known as Palácio da Sé, it was initially intended to be the residence of archbishops.
The building was built around a courtyard in the historic centre of Salvador.
The property has three floors and four bodies of construction. The entrance is marked by a portal made of Portuguese lioz stone decorated with the coat of arms of D. Sebastião Monteiro da Vide, archbishop of Salvador at the time.
The Cathedral has three floors and four buildings.
The influence of the architecture of Italian Renaissance palaces is notable in its interior, with two superimposed galleries leading to a central courtyard.
The palace housed the Administrative and Pastoral Centre of the Catholic Church in Brazil for more than 100 years and was reopened in December 2019 after the property was restored.
After the intervention of the Brazilian Institute of Historical and Artistic Heritage (IPHAN) in 1938, the space houses the Reference Centre for the History of the Catholic Church in Brazil.
The palace was reopened in December 2019 after restoration.
In addition to having its own collections and historical goods left over from other religious buildings, it has a room of the Rector Eugênio Veiga Conservation and Restoration Laboratory (LEV), with a collection of more than 16,000 restored historical documents.
Address: Praça da Sé, 203-47 – Pelourinho, Salvador – BA, 40020-210
4. Solar Santo Antônio House-Museum
Despite not being called a palace, the exotic house is very reminiscent of imperial styles. It has been transformed into a museum and unites more than 4,000 pieces by the Marchand artist Dimitri Ganzelevitch. Spacious and built in the 19th century, the building is filled with art, books and nature.
With a special terrace, which offers an incredible view of the Bay of All Saints, the space has a limited collection, full of expressive importance and quality. It is also possible to stay there, as the place functions as a hotel.
Visitation: available by appointment (different days).
Address: R. Direita de Santo Antônio, 177 – Santo Antônio Além do Carmo.
5. Sports Palace
About 1806, after its construction, the Sports Palace represented a real revolution in the architectural style of buildings in the Americas.
The Palace of Sports was built in 1806.
After its foundation, the place housed the São João Theatre, being the stage for events aimed at Bahian society, such as poetry recitation, public and political debates. Among the regulars, Ruy Barbosa, J.J Seabra and Otávio Mangabeira have been there.
In 1923, the premises were consumed by fire during a blaze. The current building, which had been constructed in the 1930s in the Art Deco style, became the headquarters of the State Secretary of Agriculture. Later, it was baptised by the then governor ACM as the Sports Palace and became home to sports federations.
.Unfortunately or fortunately, the government of Bahia has submitted a request to the Legislative Assembly (Alba) for the sale of the building baptised as the Sports Palace, which will be used for the implementation of a tourist resort, on the grounds that the financial value collected will be incorporated into the sources of the State Treasury.
Currently, the space houses the Municipal Secretariat of Sports, whose purpose, according to Decree No. 16,026, is to formulate and implement sports, leisure and entertainment policies, seeking to integrate its actions with areas of culture, education, social assistance, health, peace promotion and others.
The Municipal Secretariat of Sports is currently located in the municipality’s building.
Visitation: Monday to Friday, from 09h to 19h.
Address: Praça Castro Alves, 01 – Centre.
Visit: Monday, Friday, 09:00 am to 7:00 pm.
