Monumento a Independência (The Independence Monument)

O Grito do Ipiranga (The Independence movement)

This is the exact location where the Independence of Brazil was proclaimed. At the banks of the Ipiranga brook, Dom Pedro was alone without his Honor Guard when he received the letter proceeding from Rio de Janeiro. The letter of José Bonifácio said that Dom Pedro had two alternatives: to leave for Portugal and to become a "prisioner of the Courts" or to proclaim the Independence of Brazil "making himself its Emperor or King".
The letter from the British consul, Henry Chamberlain, reported that in Portugal it had already been taken into consideration the separation of Dom Pedro as prince, heir to the throne, in response to his continuous acts of desobedience to the Courts. And the letter from Princess Peopoldina encouraged him, concluding with the following phrase "My lord, the fruit is ripe, harvest it now". And thus, after showing rage and indecision, before a few witnesses, and still without the classic gesture of raising the sword, Dom Pedro declared the Independence of Brazil.

The monument

In 1917 a contest was conducted for the choice of a monument in view of the Centennial celebrations of the Independence of Brazil in 1922. The winning project, under the authorship of Italian artist Ettore Ximenes, was inaugurated in October 31, 1922. This work of great proportions has 131 bronce sculptures that tell episodes related to the process of independence, like the Inconfidência Mineira (revolutionary movement against Portuguese colonialism in Brazil) of 1789 and the Revolution of Pernambuco of 1817, aisde from paying homage to great articulators of the movement: José Bonifácio de Andrada e Silva, Hipólito da Costa, Diogo Antônio Feijó and Joaquim Gonçalves Ledo.
The interior of the construction holds a museum that contextualized the Independence. The outstanding highlight of the internal part is the Imperial Chapel: crypt where the mortal remains of Emperor Dom Pedro I lie (proceeding from the Pantheon of the Portuguese Royal Family in 1972 for the festivities of the 150 years of Independence and Empresses Dona Leopoldina and Dona Amélia. In front of the monument is the "Altar da Pátria" ( "Altar of the Motherland"), with a torch whose flame is never put off and symbolized the unconditional love to Brazil.