Itamaraty Palace

The Itamaraty Palace (Portuguese: Palácio Itamaraty), also known as the Palace of the Arches (Palácio dos Arcos), is the headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Brazil. It is located in the national capital of Brasília. The building was designed by architect Oscar Niemeyer and inaugurated on April 21, 1970. It is located to the east of the National Congress building along the Ministries Esplanade, near the Praça dos Três Poderes (Three Powers Plaza). One of its most iconic features is the gravity defying spiral interior staircase.

Architectural styleModernist

LocationMonumental Axis, Bloco H, Brasília, Federal District, Brazil

Coordinates15.800556°S 47.867222°W / -15.800556; -47.867222

Current tenantsMinistry of Foreign Affairs

Quick facts General information, Architectural style ...

Itamaraty Palace
Palácio Itamaraty
Interactive map of the Itamaraty Palace area
General information
Architectural style	Modernist
Location	Monumental Axis, Bloco H, Brasília, Federal District, Brazil
Coordinates	15.800556°S 47.867222°W / -15.800556; -47.867222
Current tenants	Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Year built	1960–1970
Inaugurated	20 April 1970 (1970-04-20)
Client	Brazilian government
Owner	Brazilian government
Height
Height	15 m (49 ft)
Dimensions
Diameter	84 m (276 ft) × 84 m (276 ft)
Technical details
Floor count	3
Design and construction
Architect	Oscar Niemeyer
Engineer	Joaquim Cardozo
National Historic Heritage of Brazil
Designated	2007
Reference no.	1550

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The project had the collaboration of legendary Brazilian landscape designer Roberto Burle Marx who created all of the Palace's gardens.

In Brazil, Itamaraty is generally used as a metonymy for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The name stems from that of the palace in Rio de Janeiro which was the headquarters of the ministry before the Brazilian capital and government were moved to Brasília.