By María Angélica Troncoso |
Rio de Janeiro (EFE).- The small palace of “Fiscal Island”, which marked a before and after in the history of Brazil and is considered one of the most iconic sites in Rio de Janeiro for being built on an islet reopens its doors to the public as it was conceived two centuries ago.
The place, where the then Emperor of Brazil Pedro II held his last gala ball before his overthrow by the Republicans just six days later, can be visited again from Saturday after recovering its original structure, after a year and a half of reforms.
Known as ‘Fiscal Island’, since it was thought to serve as customs due to its strategic location, right at the entrance to the city’s port, the place is far from representing the cold office with which it is called.
The striking style of the palace
Neo-Gothic in style and painted in a striking green, the palace does not go unnoticed by those who pass through the port region of Rio, as it rises on a tiny island, in the middle of Guanabara Bay, with a panoramic view that encompasses the historic center and the main landmarks of the city: Christ the Redeemer and the ‘Pao de Açúcar’ hill.
The site belongs to the Navy and became a museum at the end of 1998 when it opened the doors of its halls and gardens to the public.
Due to its beauty, location and easy access, the ‘castelinho’ is one of the most coveted places by Brazilian high society for parties, weddings and events. More than 40,000 people visit it a year and an event there can cost between 20,000 and 100,000 reais (between 4,200 and 20,800 dollars or between 3,700 and 18,500 euros).
From rat island to crown jewel
What is known today as Isla Fiscal was called the Isla de las Ratas two centuries ago, apparently due to the abundance of rodents in the place, although the data has not been verified.
Far from being imagined as a paradise, the islet of barely 7,000 square meters and located at the entrance of the port, made it perfect to serve as a customs post.
The most enthusiastic was Pedro II. The emperor did not aspire to build any office, since he wanted the tax office to be the image of Rio -then capital of the empire- and to make a “pleasant impression” on his visitors.
‘Don Pedro’, as he was known in Brazil, was aware of all the details and even chose his architectural style, based on a small Gothic-Provencal style ‘château’ (castle) in France, which was designed by the engineer Adolpho Del Vecchio.
A central tower 53 meters high stands out with a German clock and several spiers around it.
“The entire property is a work of art,” Miriam Benevenute, frigate captain and responsible for the Navy’s historical heritage, told EFE.
This is because the construction method of the palace was very traditional, without the patterns that are used today.
Its more than 70 windows, for example, are all between one and two centimeters apart. “They are unique pieces”, explained the also museologist.
Occupying a third of the island and surrounded by medieval battlements, the palace was inaugurated in April 1889, and came to be considered one of the most elegant constructions in Rio at the time.
Because of its sober lines, its air of a medieval cathedral and its striking stained glass windows.
The last Dance
The fame of this ‘castelinho’, however, was not due to the customs service, but rather due to a lavish gala ball that ended up being the last in the empire, because on November 15, 1889, six days after the event, a coup military civic proclaimed the Republic overthrowing Pedro II.
The event, organized as a tribute to the officers of the Chilean ship “Almirante Cochrane”, a country with which Brazil wanted to sign an alliance against Argentina, then a common rival, was just an excuse for the true celebration: the silver wedding anniversary of Princess Isabel and the Count d’Eu.
5,000 people were invited and 150 chefs worked tirelessly, preparing countless dishes with 800 kilos of shrimp, 300 chickens, 500 turkeys, 64 pheasants and 1,200 cans of asparagus.
20,000 sandwiches, 14,000 ice creams and 2,900 sweet dishes were also served, and 188 cases of wine, 10,000 liters of beer and 80 cases of champagne were drunk.