IPHAN

IPHAN, the Instituto do Patrimônio Histórico e Artístico Nacional, is a Brazilian federal autarchy responsible for the preservation and protection of the country’s historic and artistic heritage. Created in 1937 by President Getúlio Vargas, IPHAN operates through a network of regional superintendencies and is traditionally linked to the Ministry of Culture. It coordinates nationwide efforts to identify, register, protect, and monitor Brazil’s patrimony.

The institute maintains the Tombo Nacional, the national registry of protected properties and ensembles, and administers the process of tombamento, which grants protected status to architectural, urban, and archaeological sites, as well as movable heritage and cultural practices of national significance. IPHAN conducts technical studies, oversees restoration and conservation projects, and issues guidelines and permissions for interventions to owners and public institutions.

In addition to physical heritage, IPHAN works with intangible patrimony, promoting preservation of traditional knowledge, ceremonies, crafts, and performing arts as elements of Brazil’s cultural heritage. The agency collaborates with state and municipal governments, universities, museums, and cultural organizations, and participates in international cooperation, including UNESCO, particularly in managing Brazil’s World Heritage Sites.

Through its cataloging and protection activities, IPHAN aims to preserve Brazil’s diverse cultural landscape for future generations, while supporting research, education, tourism, and public access to historic and artistic assets.