Praça XV - 15th of November Square

The Praça XV, in Rio de Janeiro

The Praça XV, or Fifteenth of November Square, is at the heart of the historic district of Rio de Janeiro, laden with several centuries of history. The Rio de Janeiro audio-guided tour stops here to evoke this emblematic square, a witness of the colonial, imperial and republican past of Brazil, at the edge of Guanabara Bay.

The historic heart of Rio

You are here in the very heart of the historic district of Rio de Janeiro, on the Fifteenth of November Square, an important date in Brazil since it commemorates the proclamation of the Republic, in 1889. In 1590, all this land belonged to the Carmelite fathers, who had founded a convent there, and the place was long called the Carmel Square. In the colonial era, the square took a fundamental importance: it is here that the first port of the town was created, through which arrived, until 1811, the African slaves deported to Brazil, a painful memory that this place carries with gravity. The maritime station, at the edge of Guanabara Bay, was built at the beginning of the twentieth century, and you can still embark there for Niterói or the island of Paquetá. The pyramid fountain that adorns the square dates from 1750: sculpted by Mestre Valentim, one of the great artists and urban planners of the time, it was commissioned by the viceroy to improve the water supply. Further stands the statue of General Osório, a hero of the War of the Triple Alliance, surrounded by real Paraguayan cannonballs. A square laden with history and heart of the town, the Praça XV is a must-see stop of the discovery of Rio de Janeiro.

What to see

Here you discover the emblematic square of the historic heart of Rio, which commemorates the proclamation of the Republic of 15 November 1889, formerly the Carmel Square of the Carmelite fathers and site of the first port of the town, through which arrived until 1811 the African slaves, a memory that the place carries with gravity; you admire the pyramid fountain of 1750 by Mestre Valentim, the statue of General Osório surrounded by Paraguayan cannonballs, the maritime station towards Niterói and Paquetá, and the great antiques market of Saturday. The Praça XV is the historic heart of Rio. It is a must-see stop, to be explored on foot.

Practical information

The Praça XV lies in the heart of the historic district of Rio de Janeiro, at the edge of Guanabara Bay, reachable on foot and by public transport. It is a freely accessible public space; the maritime station allows to embark for Niterói or Paquetá. A great antiques market, reputed the largest of Latin America with more than five hundred vendors, is generally held there on Saturday.

What does the Praça XV represent in Rio de Janeiro?

The emblematic square of the historic heart of Rio, which commemorates the proclamation of the Republic of 15 November 1889; formerly the Carmel Square of the Carmelite fathers, it was the site of the first port of the town, through which arrived until 1811 the African slaves, and keeps the pyramid fountain of 1750 by Mestre Valentim and the statue of General Osório.

What can you do on the Praça XV in Rio de Janeiro?

You can admire there the pyramid fountain of Mestre Valentim and the statue of General Osório surrounded by Paraguayan cannonballs, embark at the maritime station for Niterói or the island of Paquetá, and stroll on Saturday in the great antiques market, reputed the largest of Latin America with more than five hundred vendors.