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Palace · Georgetown, Demerara-Mahaica
Parliament Building
The Parliament building of the Guiana, completed in 1834 in neo-Renaissance style, with columns and a white façade. It stands next to the Stabroek Market, in the old center.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Parliament Building
The Parliament Building is the seat of the National Assembly of the Guiana and one of the oldest buildings in Georgetown. It was designed by the architect Joseph Hadfield and built between 1829 and 1834 in neo-Renaissance style, with a white façade, columns and tall windows. It is located in the Stabroek neighborhood, between the market and the commercial center.
The building was made of brick on a wooden foundation, a common solution in the city, built on low, wet ground. It is one of the few large buildings downtown that are not made of wood, and for that reason it survived the fires that struck Georgetown over the centuries.
The chamber has a decorated ceiling designed by Cesar Castellani, a Maltese architect who left several works in the city. The ceiling was rebuilt in the early 2000s after being damaged by heat and humidity. The Biblioteca do Parlamento is housed in the same complex.
For visitors, the building can be seen from the outside, from the square and surrounding streets, on a walk that starts at Stabroek Market and continues along the Avenue of the Republic to the cathedral. Internal visits depend on scheduling with the Parliament; check before you go.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
10 to 20 minutes for the façade and the surrounding garden.
Best time
In the morning or late afternoon, when the light on the façade is softer. During sessions the surroundings become busier. Internal visits depend on scheduling; check before you go.
How to get there
It is at Brickdam and the Avenue of the Republic, in the Stabroek neighborhood, next to the Stabroek Market. From downtown hotels it is a 10–20 minute walk.
Tip
Combine the Parliament façade with the Stabroek Market on the same walk and follow the Avenue of the Republic, where other colonial buildings stand, such as the igreja presbiteriana de St. Andrew's, from 1811.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Parliament Building
Can you visit the Parlamento from the inside?
Interior visits depend on scheduling with the Parlamento and are not usually open to casual visitors. The façade and the surroundings can be seen from the street.
When does the Parlamento building date from?
Construction began in 1829 and finished in 1834, designed by Joseph Hadfield in a neo-Renaissance style.
What is near the Parlamento?
The Stabroek Market, on the other side of the square, and the Avenue of the Republic, which leads to the Catedral de São Jorge and the church of St. Andrew's.