Palace of Liberty Cultural Center (Paco da Liberdade Cultural Centre)

Once Curitiba’s City Hall, the Palace of Liberty is today a multi-functional cultural center hosting conferences, lectures and exhibitions with its movie theater, sound studio and electronic art lab. Built in the beginning of the 20th century to house the local government, it has an eclectic construction style. After the city’s government was transferred in 1969, the building was used as a museum, and later, restored as the cultural center it is today.
Visitors can wander through the site, passing between the two statues of Hercules holding up the archway to explore the building’s four stories. Wooden art nouveau carvings can be seen throughout the building, and large windows open up out onto the square. On the third floor, elaborate painted ceilings have many visitors looking up. The building is said to have been the first in Curitiba to hold an elevator, brought directly from Europe. The elevator is no longer in operation but has been preserved for people to see.

Practical Info

The cultural center is located on in the center of town. Admission is free. It is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visitors can take one of the many city bus lines that stop at the square, including the tourist bus, Linha Turismo.