Ilha Fiscal is the name of the island and the plateau located on it. The offices of the Guarda Fiscal (i.e. tax inspections and customs) of the then capital of the Empire in the 12th century used to be located here. Located in the Bay of Guanabara, Ilha Fiscal is an island used by the local government as offices of the Brazilian customs authorities. The building was designed by Pedro the Second, who commissioned his engineer Adolf José del Vecchio to create the project. The palace was built in the Gothic Provencal style, and was ceremoniously opened on April 27, 1889, at a ceremony attended by the king, his entourage and numerous diplomats.
The island became famous for organizing the famous ball, the last great event of the Empire before the coup in November 1889 when the Republic of Brazil was proclaimed. A celebration of the silver anniversary of Princess Isabella and Count of Eu was planned in the palace. Some sources state that as many as 5.000 people were invited to the party and that the extravagant celebration was encouraged by national resources. After this event, i.e. only 6 days later, a coup was organized and the Republic of Brazil was proclaimed. The monarchy was overthrown by the military and political alliance of Brazil.
Later records speak of a ship passing by the island with Del Vecchio and other Republican supporters and officials on board. When one of the passengers noticed that the coat of arms of the fallen empire was still present on the facade of the palace and stated that it should be destroyed in order to remove all the imperial symbols on the republic buildings, Del Vecchio convinced his passengers that the coat of arms was the work of an old master who was blind, and later demanded that the sculpture is not to be removed or destroyed. His wish was granted.
Today, the palace houses a museum.
Boats depart from Espaço Cultural da Marinha at Alfredo Agache s/n stret, near Praça XV in the city center
The visit can be done from Thursday to Sunday.
The tour takes place at 12:30, 14:00 and 15:30, and boarding begins 20 minutes before the scheduled time.
The box office is open between 11:00 and 15:10 and only on days when the tour takes place.
Tickets, which include a transfer to the island and a guided tour lasting about 2 hours, cost 36 BRL, while students, teachers, children under 21 and pensioners pay 18 BRL
