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As part of Antonio Guzmán Blanco’s policy of eliminating convents, the Federal Legislative Palace was built on the block formerly occupied by the Church of La Concepción. The Capitol, sur-rounded by boulevards, was the first monumental work meant to change the face of the colonial city. The Palace was built by the Compañía de Credito (an association of distinguished city mer-chants) and became a basic reference of nineteenth century Caracas. To carry it out, Guzmán Blanco introduced changes in work methods, establishing shifts, strict deadlines and fixed completion dates. Its construction was decreed in September 1872, and the result is a 20 meters high neo-classic monument, which was completed in two stages: the south wing, housing the Legislative Palace and session halls in 1873, and the north wing or Federal Palace, housing the Elliptic Room, in 1877. Both sections are arranged forming a group of arches around the courtyard, whose central fountain (designed by Duvale) was inspired by the Place de la Concorde in Paris. The elliptic dome’s exterior is covered in bronze, and inside displays a painting of the Battle of Carabobo, by Martín Tovar y Tovar (1827-1902) in 1888. The Capitol opened on schedule, on February 20, 1877, the last day of government of the so called «septennium» of the Illustrious American.
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