The Palacio de los López stands on a bluff above the Paraguay River and is easily Asuncion's most impressive building — a grand neo-classical structure with colonnaded facades that looks considerably more ambitious than anything else in the city. It serves as the working seat of the Paraguayan presidency, so the interior is not open to the public, but the exterior and the riverfront views make it well worth seeking out.
The palace occupies a commanding position in the historic centre, and the surrounding area — the Costanera waterfront promenade, the Casa de Gobierno esplanade — gives you space to appreciate its scale. In the early morning or at sunset, the light on the white stone is particularly good. Guards are present but relaxed about tourists photographing from the street.