Visit the Harry Truman bedroom at Laranjeiras Palace in Rio!

Named after the orange tree, the Laranjeiras Palace is currently the official residence of the governor of the state of Rio de Janeiro. Located in the city’s South Zone, the palace was origally constructed in 1909 as the private residence of the family of Eduardo Guinle, who continued to live in the home until his death in 1941. Guinle was a wealthy industrialist who actually obtained a civil and electrical engineering degree in the United States and then returned to Rio de Janeiro as a representative for companies such as General Electric and Otis Elevators.

The palace was designed by Armando Silva Telles and decorated by a firm from Paris, known as Maison Bettenfield. The Laranjeiras Palace was filled with extremely valuable European art which at one time included almost 200 bronzes by Antoine-Louis Barye, one of the most important sculptors of the 19th century. It was upon Guinle’s death that the Palace was sold to the government of Brazil and became the residence of the President. It was later passed on to the state.

Registered by the Historic and Artistic Heritage Institute in 1983, the palace’s main facade is very similiar to that which graces the casino in Monte Carlo. The influence of the classic French architecture is obvious, most notably that of Louis XV and Louis XVI. Nestled in the beautiful Santa Teresa neighborhood, the Laranjeiras Palace underwent a restoration in 2001 during which the gardens, furniture, facades, marbles, ornaments and statues were meticulously returned to their original condition. The objects on display in the castle, including the furniture and statues are originals. Among the more well known visitors to the palace was United States President, Harry S. Truman. While visiting, be sure and step into the bedroom that bears his name!

When visiting the palace, tourists may also enjoy the short trip down the hill to Guinle Park. At the entrance to the park, also known as Parque Guinle, is an old gate which at one time was actually the entrance to the Guinle estate. The gate itself is a piece of art; two majestic lateral granite columns framed with leaves intricately fabricated of sheet metal are esconced by two sphinx sculptures carrying two bronze angels. The gate is just 35 meters down the hill from the Palace. The neighborhood itself is also rich in both culture and history as one of city’s first residential areas. Founded in the 17th century, the neighborhood was originally know as Vale do Carioca which means Carioca Valley. The Carioca River flows nearby.

Other places to visit close to the Laranjeiras Palace include, the Guanabara Palace and the Laranjeiras Stadium. The address of the Laranjeiras Palace is Rua Paulo Cesar Andrade 407.

You can reach the Laranjeiras Palace by phone at 2299 5233

From Laranjeiras Palace Rio de Janeiro to Rio-de-Janeiro.info