Museum sights in Rio De Janeiro
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Museu Histórico Nacional
Housed in the colonial arsenal, which dates from 1764, the impressive Museu Histórico Nacional contains over 250,000 historic relics relating to the history of Brazil from its founding to its early days as a republic. The museum is located near Praça Marechal Âncora and features many well-designed displays, from gilded imperial coaches and the throne of Dom Pedro II to massive oil paintings depicting the horrific combat in the war with Paraguay. There’s some attention paid to Brazil’s indigenous population and to curious relics such as the writing quill that Princess Isabel used to sign the document abolishing slavery in Brazil and a full-sized model of a colonial pharma…
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Museu Nacional de Belas Artes
Rio’s Museu Nacional de Belas Artes houses more than 18,000 original paintings and sculptures, some of which date back to works brought over from Portugal by Dom João VI in 1808. One of its most important galleries is the Galeria de Arte Brasileira, with 20th-century classics such as Cândido Portinari’s Café. Other galleries display Brazilian folk art, African art and furniture, as well as contemporary exhibits. Guided tours are available in English (call ahead).
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Instituto Moreira Salles
The beautiful Instituto Moreira Salles, next to the Parque da Cidade, contains an archive of more than 80,000 photographs, many portraying the old streets of Rio. The gardens, complete with artificial lake and flowing river, were designed by Brazilian landscape architect Burle Marx. There’s also a craft shop and a café serving lunch and afternoon tea.
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Palácio Tiradentes
In the looming building overlooking the bay, the stately Tiradentes Palace today houses the seat of the legislative assembly. Exhibits on the 1st and 2nd floors relate the events that took place there between 1926 and the present. One of its darkest hours was when the National Assembly was shut down in 1937 under the Vargas dictatorship; it later served as his Department of Press and Propaganda. Most information is in Portuguese, though you can listen to a rundown of history in English at the interactive machine in the foyer. The statue in front, incidentally, is not a likeness of Russian mystic Rasputin, but rather that of martyr Tiradentes, who led the drive toward Braz…
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Museu do Bonde
The tiny one-room Tram Museum at the depot close to Largo do Guimarães offers a history of Rio’s tramways since 1865 – when the trams were pulled by donkeys. A few photographs, trip-recorders and conductor uniforms are just about the only objects documenting their legacy. Uplifting music plays overhead. The term bonde, incidentally, means just that: bond, indicating the way in which the first electric trams were financed – through public bonds. While you’re at the museum, wander down to the old workshop that houses the trams. Cineastes may remember the depot from the opening sequence of the film Orfeu Negro.
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Museu de Arte Moderna
At the north end of Parque do Flamengo, the Museu de Arte Moderna is immediately recognizable by the striking postmodern edifice designed by Alfonso Eduardo Reidy. The landscaping by Burle Marx is no less impressive. After a devastating fire in 1978 that consumed 90% of its collection, the museum is finally back on its feet and now houses 11,000 permanent works, including pieces by Brazilian artists Bruno Giorgi, Emiliano Di Cavalcanti and Maria Martins. You’ll find excellent photography and design exhibits, and the cinema hosts regular film festivals throughout the year.
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Museu Histórico do Exército e Forte de Copacabana
Built in 1914, on the promontory of the former Our Lady of Copacabana chapel, the Forte de Copacabana (Copacabana Fort) was one of Rio’s premier defenses against attack. You can still see its original features, including walls up to 12m thick, defended by Krupp cannons. The several floors of exhibits in the fort’s museum, tracing the early days of the Portuguese colony to the mid-19th century, aren’t the most tastefully presented, but the view alone warrants a visit. There’s a lovely café overlooking Copacabana.
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Espaço Cultural da Marinha
On the waterfront, the Espaço Cultural da Marinha is a sailor’s delight. Moored along the dock are the Riachuelo submarine and the Bauru (a small WWII destroyer), which have been turned into floating museums. You’ll also find a 19th-century vessel used by Dom João VI, countless ship models, and maps and navigational instruments charting the history of imperial and Brazilian navigation. The boat tour to Ilha Fiscal leaves from here.
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Planetário
Gávea’s stellar attraction, the Planetário features a museum, a praça dos telescópios (plaza of telescopes) and two state-of-the-art operating domes, each capable of projecting over 6000 stars on its walls. Visitors can also take a peak at the night sky (free) through the telescopes on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 7:30pm to 8:30pm (6:30pm to 7:30pm in winter). Periodically, the Planetário hosts live Sunday concerts.
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Museu da República
Located in the Palácio do Catete, the Museu da República has a good collection of art and artifacts from the Republican period. Built between 1858 and 1866 and easily distinguished by the bronze condors on the eaves, the palace was home to the president of Brazil from 1896 until 1954, when President Getúlio Vargas killed himself. The bedroom in which the suicide occurred is eerily preserved on the 3rd floor.
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Museu Internacional de Arte Naïf do Brasil
Vivid color and a playful perspective are two of the characteristics of arte naïf paintings; many of the artists of this style came from outside the establishment. Also known as primitivist, the paintings in this permanent collection are extensive: over 8000 pieces, executed by artists from 130 countries, dating from the 15th century to the present. It's the largest museum of its kind in the world.
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Museu Villa-Lobos
Housed in a century-old building, the modest museum is dedicated to the memory of Brazil’s greatest classical composer – and founder of the Brazilian Academy of Music – Heitor Villa-Lobos. In addition to scores, musical instruments – including the piano on which he composed – and personal items, the museum contains an extensive sound archive. Classical concerts are sometimes held in the adjoining courtyard.
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Museu do Arte Contemporânea
Designed by Brazil’s most famous architect, Oscar Niemeyer, the Museu do Arte Contemporânea is a curvilinear building with breathtaking views, but the exhibitions inside aren’t always very notable. To get here from the Niterói ferry terminal, turn right as you leave and walk about 50m across to the bus stop in the middle of the road; a 47B minibus will drop you at the museum door.
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Museu do Índio
Featuring multimedia exhibitions on Brazil’s northern tribes, the small Museu do Índio provides an excellent introduction to Brazil’s indigenous people. Next to native food and medicinal plants, the four life-size dwellings in the courtyard were built by four different tribes. The museum contains an archive of more than 14,000 objects, 50,000 photographs and 200 sound recordings.
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Museu Histórico e Diplomático
Housed in the neoclassical Palácio Itamaraty, the Museum of History and Diplomacy served as the private presidential home from 1889 until 1897. The museum has an impressive collection of art, antiques and maps. Visits are by guided 45-minute tours. Call ahead to ensure you get an English-speaking guide. The museum is just a short walk west from Presidente Vargas metro station.
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Monumento Nacional aos Mortos da II Guerra Mundial
This delicate monument to the soldiers who perished in WWII contains a museum, a mausoleum and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The museum exhibits uniforms, medals and documents from Brazil’s Italian campaign. There’s also a small lake and sculptures by Ceschiatti and Anísio Araújo de Medeiros.
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Museu de Folclórico Edson Carneiro
Next door to the Palácio do Catete, this museum provides an excellent introduction to Brazilian folk art. Its collection includes Candomblé costumes, ceramic figurines and religious costumes used in festivals, though our favorite exhibits are the delightful, mechanized scenes (the circus, bull riders, samba show, rubber tree workers).
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Arte Sesc Centro Cultural
This small cultural center is housed in an early-20th-century mansion built by Czech entrepreneur Frederico Figner. His record company is better known than he is – Odeon records being one of the top labels in the country. The small gallery features changing exhibits, often highlighting Rio’s development in the early 20th century.
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Museu de Ciências da Terra
With curved staircases and statues out the front, this majestic building went through many incarnations before it housed the Earth Science Museum. The four-room exhibit gives an overview of the natural history of Brazil. Other rooms showcase the museum’s extensive collection of minerals, rocks and meteorites – 5000 pieces in all.
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Museu Histórico da Cidade
The 19th-century mansion on the lovely grounds of the Parque da Cidade now houses the Museu Histórico da Cidade, which portrays Rio from its founding in 1565 to the mid-20th century. The museum also has exhibitions of furniture, porcelain, photographs and paintings by well-known artists.
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Museu Carmen Miranda
Although Carmen Miranda is largely forgotten in Hollywood, the once-great Brazilian singer still has her fans, and has become a cult icon among Rio’s gay community. In addition to photographs and music of her era, the tiny Museu Carmen Miranda displays the starlet’s iconographic costumes and jewelry.
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Casa do Pontal
Owned by French designer Jacques Van de Beuque, this impressive collection of over 5000 pieces is one of the best folk-art collections in Brazil. The assorted artifacts are grouped according to themes, including music, Carnaval, religion and folklore. The grounds of the museum are surrounded by lush vegetation.
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Sports Museum
Inside the Maracanã Football Stadium, the sports museum has photographs, posters, cups and the uniforms of Brazilian sporting greats, including Pelé’s famous No 10 shirt. There’s also a store where you can buy football shirts. Enter the north entrance, through gate 15 off Rua Mata Machado.
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Fundação Eva Klabin
An old mansion full of antiques, the former residence of Eva Klabin houses the works of art she collected for 60 years. Reflecting Eva’s diverse interests, the collection has 1100 pieces from acient Egypt, Greece and China. Paintings, sculptures, silver, furniture and carpets are also on display.
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Museu de Arte Sacra
The small Museu de Arte Sacra in the basement of the Catedral Metropolitana contains a number of historical items, including the baptismal font used at the christening of royal princes and the throne of Dom Pedro II. The cathedral can accommodate up to 20,000 worshippers.
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