A sumptuous example of Manaus’s former riches, the 1903 Rio Negro Palace was originally the Palacete Scholz, named for the city’s biggest rubber baron. Later, the German-born Scholz’s home and gardens were turned into the governor’s residence. A few decades ago, the eclectic structure with balconies and a rich golden facade was declared a national-heritage cultural site. Today, it still has fabulous Beaux-Arts furnishings, and it mounts art exhibitions and theatrical productions.
