Nice place, excelente guide. The visit to the palace can be made on Thursdays and Fridays from 9 a.m to 11 a.m and 2 p.m to 4 p.m. On Sunday from 10 a.m to noon. We didn't pay for the visita.

Put near the top of your list of any walk around Recife Antigo. We were given a leaflet about this beautiful building - the palace of the Governor of the State of Pernambuco - when we popped past one day and planned to return to take one of the many free guided tours that are run. Our family group contained a foreign tourist - me - but also people who have lived in Recife all their lives, and all were really impressed with what they saw. The building is beautiful inside and the guide was really friendly and patient with people's questions. The tour is free and there is no need to book. Just be aware that it is a working building, so if you go during the week, you aren't allowed to wear things like shorts or flip flops. Tours also run on Sundays, when this dress code is not enforced. Alert your guide in advance if you are a foreigner: many have good language skills. I didn't and was ok with the Portuguese, but our lovely guide said she would have been only too willing to translate things for me.