The most photographed building in Bissau, though not for its beauty. The Presidential Palace (Palácio do Governo) stands on the main square in Bissau Velho, the old colonial quarter, and its ruined and battered exterior tells the story of the country's turbulent post-independence history more vividly than any museum could. Bullet holes, missing sections of facade, and an air of impermanence characterise the building even when it is officially functioning.
The palace is still in use as a government building and photography of the exterior from the square is generally tolerated, though not from directly in front of the gates. The surrounding area of Bissau Velho has the most intact colonial architecture in the city — wide verandas, faded paint, and the unhurried rhythm of a capital that time has not quite caught up with.