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The Palácio Floriano Peixoto Museum is located in the city of Maceió, state of Alagoas, in Brazil.





Headquarters of the Government of the State of Alagoas, the building highlighted by Craveiro Costa "as the most beautiful building in the State due to the sumptuousness of its style and proportions" (LAGES, 85), had its construction started in 1893, "whose cornerstone was laid in September 14th… "(SANT'ANA, 08), with the architectural design and execution under the responsibility of Alagoas military engineer Carlos Jorge Calheiros de Lima, under the administration of Dr. Gabino Suzano de Araújo Besouro (1892/1894), authorized by Law No. 30, of May 26, 1893.



With the deposition of Governor Gabino Besouro on July 16, 1894 and due to scarcity of resources, the works were paralyzed and, restarted under the administration of Manoel Gomes Ribeiro Júnior, Barão de Traipú (1894/1897), "period in which they worked, between others, the engineers Morada, Adolfo Lins, Francisco Severiano Braga Torres and Luiz Gonzaga, once again the aforementioned works were interrupted, with the departure of Barão de Traipú from the government, on June 12, 1897 (SANT'ANA, 08) ".



Under the government of Euclides Vieira Malta, work was resumed once again, under the responsibility of the State engineer, architect Luiz Lucariny, who had been entrusted by the governor, on June 12, 1900, to continue the construction of that building, whose work would be re-entered in 1902 (SANT'ANA, 09) and which promoted several changes in the original plant. "According to Craveiro Costa the building was completely altered, the facade, above all, underwent a radical transformation, offering a beautiful ensemble, magnificently treated in its ornamentation and elegance of style ´ (LAGES, 85)". These interferences gave the building plan some modifications to the eclectic taste of the time (PAIVA). It is noteworthy that the Italian architect Luiz Lucariny lived in Maceió and was responsible for other large works that mark architecture in our land, such as the Teatro Deodoro (Maceió) and the Teatro Sete de Setembro (Penedo).



"Majestic, the building has as its highlight the Salão Nobre, with high reliefs and Louis XV style furniture. In its wings, sculptures in Portuguese crockery represent: justice, farming, commerce and history (SECOM)."



"The facade of the building is of a Tuscan order, modified, with two magnificent porches, one lower and the other upper that form the terrace. From the entrance to the vestibule, a five-step granite staircase that serves as the base for the porticoes of the facade, next to the which stand out two collateral bodies of the same order, careful work in carved stone, imitating stonework, forming the basis of the work, with four Doric style windows (LAGES, 85) ".



Crowning the festivities of the Political Emancipation of Alagoas, on September 16, 1902, the Palace is inaugurated, with the expressive presence of the local community.



Through State Decree nº 417, of October 17, 1947, signed by Governor Silvestre Péricles de Góes Monteiro, the official building, residence and government palace, changes its name to "Palácio Marechal Floriano Peixoto".



"Prior to the construction of this building, the house of the wealthy Portuguese merchant, Francisco José da Graça, located at Rua do Comércio, on the corner of Rua da Rosa, current Senador Mendonça, where the 1st Governor was installed, in 1819, of the Capitania, Sebastião Francisco de Mélo e Póvoas, and the Barão de Jaraguá townhouse, located at Rua Barão de Anadia, this palace was demolished in 1940, to build the building of the Institute of Retirement and Pension of the Employees in Transport on the site and Loads [IAPETEC] (LAGES, 86) ".





"The historical data that build the existence of the Museum, which will give a new consignment to the Marechal Floriano Peixoto Palace, stems from the interest of the government of the State of Alagoas in proposing" a revitalization of the headquarters building (PAIVA) ", enshrined in" two distinct moments (PAIVA) ".



It is noteworthy that in the printout distributed at the opening of the Museu Histórico de Alagoas - Palácio Marechal Floriano Peixoto it appears that the project for its implementation would meet the need to "rescue the history of the centuries-old home that hosts it and the most remarkable events of its trajectory as headquarters of the government of Alagoas (PAIVA), in its first moment, the second moment, would create "the educational-cultural pole that intends to rescue the historical and social memory of Alagoas in several phases (PAIVA)".



The official document that registers the creation of the Historical Museum of Alagoas - Palácio Marechal Floriano Peixoto, is the Decree of March 27, 2006, signed by Governor Ronaldo Lessa, which in Art. 3 thus determines: "The Palace Marechal Floriano Peixoto, stage major political decisions, due to its importance in the history of Alagoas, will be transformed into a museum, open to public visitation and reserved for receptions and official ceremonies ".



The official inauguration took place on May 18, 2006, during the term of Vice-Governor Luiz Abílio de Souza Neto.







The collection of the Palácio Floriano Peixoto Museum - MUPA consists basically of furniture from the 19th and 20th centuries, silverware, crystals and decorative objects, from paintings by Alagoas painters, such as the outstanding Luis Silva, Miguel Torres, Lourenço Peixoto and, the magnificent canvases from Alagoas painter born in Marechal Deodoro, Rosalvo Alexandrino de Caldas Ribeiro, awarded in several exhibitions in Brazil and France and that number of 21 (twenty one) are distributed in its various premises.



Countless valuable pieces were gradually degraded, "either for lack of scientific conservation, and the worst, much of this rich treasure simply disappeared, without its guardians, the governments established in the past, being able to explain (LOUREIRO, 06)". Therefore, we have the task of inventorying, conserving, restoring and protecting the resistant and existing heritage in the Museum, making it accessible to visitors, and transforming it into a museum equipment that is worthy of the culture of Alagoas.



The beautiful and magnificent example of eclectic architecture, highlights the capital that "has been embellished with the buildings destined for administrative life (ALTAVILA, 45)" and which gains a new mission with the Museum, an institution focused on perpetuity, for the present and for posterity.



Currently, scheduled and guided tours start at 8 am and continue until 5 pm, Monday to Friday. On Saturdays, the service is from 1 pm to 5 pm and, next, on Sundays, from 1 pm to 5 pm.



The Palácio Floriano Peixoto Museum - MUPA is an integral part of the "architectural ensemble of Martírios", listed by the State Heritage, through Decree No. 38309, of March 9, 2000, where the Pierre Chalita Foundation and Museum buildings and the old one are concentrated. Municipal council known as Palácio das Águias, which by its neo-Gothic lines, complete the site, with important highlights in the socio-political, religious and cultural life of the population of Alagoas.



Fernando Antônio Netto Lôbo Director / MUPA - 2008

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