Imperial Palace of Quinta da Boa Vista situated in São Cristóvão (St. Kittis) Farms of the Jesuits The area where It is located the so-called Quinta da Boa Vista (which is part of São Cristovão neighboorhood), was part of Jesuits farms. However in the year of 1759 It was decreed the expulsion of the Jesuits from Portugal and all its colonies. These farms that belonged to the Jesuits were huge areas, divide into others big areas, such us São Cristovão farm (St. Kitts), Old Mill farm and New Mill farm. Each of those old areas give name to neighboorhoods in Rio de Janeiro City. All those properties were divide into smaller farms, anyway, It was still very large areas. A kind o auctions was hold and the properties acquired by individuals landowners and squires. back to the top >>   The big Manson becames the Royal Palace At the beginning of the 19th century, the area called Quinta da Boa Vista, somewhat distant from the center of the city then belonged to a wealthy Portuguese merchant named Elias Antônio Lopes, who acquired the lots, and built a big house there in 1803. The place was called "Quinta of Elias", and this house gave a beautiful view of Guanabara Bay, and hence the name "Quinta da Boa Vista" which means "Farm with a beautiful view".  Although not usual in Brazil nowadays, the term Quinta in Portugal means a farm which belonged to some aristocract. In the year of 1808, The King John VI moved to Brazil because Portugal was about to be invade by Napoleon.  John VI, who was on the side of England against Napoleon, did not have enough military power to tackle Napoleon, anyway he decide not to surrender . So he tranfered the capital city of the empire to its wealthy and greatst colony, that was Brazil at the time. No sooner he left Portugal, It fallen in the hands of the foe. With the change of the capital city, the King of the Portuguese Empire, João VI moved to Brazil in 1808, He first settled in the Royal Palace at (15 square) Praça XV in Rio de Janeiro, which was until then the residence of the Viceroys.  Perhaps for receiving political favors or lack of choice, the merchant Elias Antônio Lopes then decided to donate their house to John VI, who accepted the property.  Anyway, Mr Lopes had no choice, sooner or later his manson could be confiscated by the crown. So, as he was astute, long before it could lost his manson, he  gave it as gift to the King.  Due to the lack of housing in the city, the Portuguese Empire put a bill that would enable to confiscated many  houses for use of the court. Voltar acima >>

The 1816 Royal Palace Gateway is now at the Rio Zoo entrance.

From the Royal Palace to Imperial Palace

Later on, when Napoleon was defeated, the King John VI returned to Portugal, which became again the center of the Portuguese Empire. Brazil became again a colony of the United Kingdoom of Portugal. 

When John VI left the country, he decide to nominate his son Pedro I (Peter I) the King of Brazil. Anyway, Brazil continued to be part of The United Kingdoom of Portugal. 

In the year of 1822 Pedro I decided not to submit to Portugal anymore, and proclamed the Independence of Brazil and became the ruler of the of the country using the title of Emperor of Brazil.

The " Palacio Real" ( Royal Palace) was the residence of the royal family from 1808 to 1821. After the proclamation of the independence of Brazil by Pedro I, in the year of 1822, the Royal Palace was renamed  Imperial Palace. Since then it was the residence of the Imperial family from 1822 to 1889, when the Republic was proclaimed.

In 1816 the manson had already been renovated, and a great gate was given as a wedding gift to Pedro I and future Queen (empress) Maria Leopoldina of Austria. The gate was given by an English Lord, the Duke of Northuberland. The gate was placed in front of the so-called Imperial Palace in Quinta da Boa Vista. It was a replica of the existing gate to the residence of the Duke in England, the Sion House.

Through successive prints of the time, one can see that there was plans to turn the building features into a neoclassical building.
Regarding the orginal manson, It was regarded as the best landlord house in Rio at the time, and had beautiful views but lacked the grandeur and style desired by the Kings.

The transformation of the original construction into a neoclassical palace expresses the intention of magnitude, using an architecture which aim was to express power, rationality and dominion over nature.
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Above, in the panel, pictures of Marc Ferrez taken in 1870, when it appears that, the gardens planned by August Gaziou were not yet ready. However, this time it seems that the landscaper Gaziou or perhaps a landscape architect or predecessor had the idea of covering with soil or vegetation the retaining walls of the earthwork in the front yard of the palace. In the photo of 1872 It already appears the lake designed by Gaziou. 

At this time an increase in central facade also appears in both photos and the stair that appear in the lithography of Karl Von Planitz Robert Barton, show above no longer appears. Another stair must have been built, in the form of staircase  inside this new addition, as can be seen today by visiting the palace.
Beside and below, photo takin in 2009, the Old Imperial Palace is now the National Museum of Natural History of UFRJ.
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From the End of Manarchy (Republica begnning) to Nowadays  

After the proclamation of the Republic, the palace hosted the works of the National Assembly which resulted in the Brazilian Constitution of 1891. The following year, 1892 the National Museum of Brazil (also know as National Museum of Natural History) moved from its former headquarters in the Campo de Santana to the former Imperial Palace. 

Nowadays it is also called the National Museum of UFRJ (National Museum of Federal University of Rio de Janeiro) or the National Museum of Natural History or also known as the Museum of Quinta da Boa Vista
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Chronology | Summary of Changes  

After the house was presented to King John VI in 1808, it underwent improvements and modifications.

Between 1816 and 1821 major changes were made to receive the Prince Pedro I and Maria Leopoldina of Austria who married in and came to live on the site in 1817.

The English architect John Johnston, was in charge of the renovation of the palace and the installations of a huge gate in front of the front yard of the palace. The gate was a gift by the Duke of Northumbrland. 

The gate was inspired by a portico designed by Robert Adams for a mansion known as Sion House in London, and it was the residence of the Duke. This Gate is currently placed at the entrance of the Zoo of Rio de Janeiro, which is also in the Quinta da Boa Vista.

After the independence of Brazil, Pedro I renamed the site as Imperial Palace (formerly the Royal Palace) and engaged the Portuguese architect Manuel da Costa from 1822 to 1826. 

In 1826 Manuel da Costa was replaced by French architect Pedro José Pezerát who led the work until 1831. It is attributed to him the authorship of the project to turn the building into a neoclassical palace.

Until then, It had been built a tower on the left, and another tower was erected on the right giving more symmetry to the building, and a third floor was started on the two existing floors.

In 1847 the Brazilian Architect Manuel Araujo continued with works by harmonizing the facades. 

Then came the German Architect Thodores Marx, who continued improvements between 1857 to 1863.

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