Rio de Janeiro - Arco do Telles

The arch at the entrance to Travessa do Comércio, a short distance from Praça 15 de Novembre, is all that remains of a house built by Alpoim for the Telles de Menezes family which was burned down in 1790. The narrow cobbled lanes of this quarter are nowadays the scene of open-air cultural events, and the tall houses with their thick walls are now occupied by bars and elegant restaurants.