Museum of the Republic
The Nova Friburgo Palace, currently the Catete Palace, built between 1858 and 1867 by the coffee merchant and farmer Antônio Clemente Pinto, Baron of Nova Friburgo, has established itself as a monument of great historical, architectural and artistic importance. Built in Rio de Janeiro, then Imperial Capital, it became a symbol of the economic power of the slave-producing coffee elite of 19th century Brazil. Its design in an eclectic style is the result of the work of renowned foreign artists, such as the architect Gustav Waehneldt and the painters Emil Bauch, Gastão Tassini and Mario Bragaldi. In 1889, twenty years after the death of the Baron and his wife, the Palace was sold to Companhia do Grande Hotel Internacional and, later, before any hotel company was installed in the property, it was sold to the largest shareholder of the Company, the director Francisco by Paula Mayrink. On April 18, 1896, during the term of President Prudente de Moraes, at the time acting on an interim basis by Vice Manuel Vitorino, the Palace was acquired by the Federal Government to host the Presidency of the Republic, previously installed at the Itamaraty Palace.