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Arte-Sesc Cultural Center
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 good exhibits, often highlighting Rio's development in the early 20th century. Downstairs is the excellent Senac Bistrô.
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Biblioteca Nacional
Inaugurated in 1910, the national library is the largest in Latin America, with more than 8 million volumes. It was designed by Francisco Marcelino de Souza Aguiar. On the ground floor, the periodical section is to the left, and general works are to the right. On the 2nd floor are many rare books and manuscripts, including two copies of the precious Mainz Psalter Bible, printed in 1492. Owing to their fragility, most of these rare books can be viewed only on microfilm.
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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, which alone makes it worth the trip out here.
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Casa França-Brasil
In a neoclassical building dating from 1820, the Casa França-Brasil opened in 1990 for the purpose of advancing cultural relations between France and Brazil. The main hall features changing exhibitions often dealing with political and cultural facets of Carioca society. The building is considered the most important classical revival structure in Brazil, and once served as a customs house.
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Catedral Metropolitana
The enormous cone-shaped cathedral was inaugurated in 1976 after 12 years of construction. Among its sculptures, murals and other works of art, the four vivid stained-glass windows, which stretch 60m to the ceiling, are breathtaking. The Museu de Arte Sacra (Museum of Sacred Art) in the basement 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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Centro Cultural Justiça Federal
The stately building overlooking the Praça Floriano served as the headquarters of the Supreme Court (Supremo Tribunal Federal) from 1909 to 1960. Following its recent restoration, it's become the Federal Justice Cultural Center, featuring exhibitions focused above all on photography and Brazilian art, though some fascinating exhibits from abroad sometimes make their way here. The store on the 1st floor has a tiny selection of books and handicrafts.
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Centro de Arte Hélio Oiticica
This avant-garde museum is set in a 19th-century neoclassical building that originally housed the Conservatory of Music and Dramatic Arts. Today, the center displays permanent works by the artist, theoretician and poet Hélio Oiticica, as well as bold contemporary art exhibitions, well-tuned to Oiticica's forward-leaning aesthetics. In addition to six exhibition galleries, there's a bistro and a book shop on the first floor.
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Espaço Cultural da Marinha
Naval enthusiasts should visit this open museum on the waterfront near the eastern end of Av Presidente Vargas. It contains the Riachuelo submarine, which you can wander through, the Bauru (a WWII torpedo boat) and the royal family's large rowboat. The boat tour to Ilha Fiscal leaves from the docks here.
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Forte de Copacabana
Built in 1914 on the promontory of the old Our Lady of Copacabana chapel, the fort of Copacabana 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. Inside there is a museum with several floors of exhibits tracing the early days of the Portuguese colony to the mid-19th-century, the exhibits aren't the most tastefully done, but the view alone is worth a visit.
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Instituto Moreira Salles
This beautiful cultural center is next to the Parque da Cidade and contains an archive of more than 80,000 photographs, many portraying old streets of Rio as well as the urban development of other Brazilian cities over the last two centuries. It also hosts impressive exhibitions, often showcasing the works of some of Brazil's best photographers and artists. Check its website for details of what's on when you're in town.
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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.
Read more about Monumento Nacional Aos Mortos da Ii Guerra Mundial
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Museu Aerospacial
This museum maintains expositions on Santos Dumont (the Brazilian father of aviation), Air Marshal Eduardo Gomes, the history of Brazilian airmail and the role of Brazil's air force in WWII. There are lots of old planes, motors and flying instruments. Highlights are replicas of Santos Dumont's planes, the 14 Bis and the Demoiselle . You can also arrange guided visits if you call at least three days in advance.
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Museu Amsterdam Sauer
Next door to Museu H Stern, the Museu Amsterdam Sauer also houses an impressive collection of precious stones - over 3000 items in all. It also has two life-size replicas of mines. Like H Stern, the Amsterdam Sauer store is the place to lay down some serious cash if you're looking for precious gems or well-made accessories.
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Museu Carmen Miranda
Carmen Miranda was once the highest-paid entertainer in the USA. She's the only Brazilian to leave her prints in Hollywood's Walk of Fame. Although she's largely forgotten there, the talented Brazilian singer still has her fans in Rio and has become a cult icon among the gay community. For those interested in getting to know one of Brazil's stars of the '40s, the small museum dedicated to her is an excellent starting point.
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Museu Casa de Rui Barbosa
The former mansion (completely restored in 2003) of famous Brazilian journalist and diplomat Rui Barbosa is now a museum housing his library and personal belongings, along with an impressive archive of manuscripts and first editions of other Brazilian authors, such as Machado de Assis and José de Alençar. Barbosa played a major role in shaping the country's socio-economic development in the early 20th century.
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Museu Chácara do Céu
The former mansion of art patron and industrialist Raymundo Ottoni de Castro Maya, the museum contains a small but diversified collection of modern art - formerly Ottoni's private collection, which he bequeathed to the nation. In addition to works by Portinari, Di Cavalcanti and Lygia Clark, the museum displays furniture and Brazilian maps dating from the 17th and 18th centuries. Beautiful gardens surround the museum, and a panoramic view of Centro and Baía de Guanabara awaits visitors.
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Museu da República
The Museu da República, located in the Palácio do Catete, has been wonderfully restored. 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 committed suicide here.
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Museu de Arte Moderna
At the northern end of Parque do Flamengo, the Museu de Arte Moderna (MAM) is immediately recognizable by the striking postmodern edifice designed by Alfonso Eduardo Reidy. The landscaping of Burle Marx is no less impressive.
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Museu de Arte Sacra
The small Museu de Arte Sacra is in the basement of the Catedral Metropolitana. It contains historical items such as the throne of Dom Pedro II, the baptismal basins used at the christenings of royal princes and the golden roses Princess Isabel received from Pope Leo XIII after signing the law abolishing slavery in Brazil.
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Museu de Ciência da Terra
With curved staircases and statues looming out front, this majestic building went through a number of incarnations before it finally ended up housing the Earth Science Museum. The museum mostly appeals to children, who still marvel at some of the life-sized dinosaurs on display. The four-room exhibit gives a quick overview of the natural history of Brazil since the Big Bang. Other rooms showcase the museum's extensive collection of minerals, rocks and meteorites - 5000 pieces in all.
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Museu de Folclórico Edson Carneiro
Created in 1968, this museum is an excellent introduction to particularly northeastern Brazilian folk art. Its permanent collection comprises 1400 pieces, and includes Candomblé costumes, ceramic figurines and religious costumes used in festivals. The museum also features a folklore library and a small shop, selling handicrafts, books and folk music. The museum lies next door to the Palácio do Catete.
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Museu do Arte Contemporânea
Designed by Brazil's most famous architect, Oscar Niemeyer, the MAC has a wild curvilinear design that blooms like a flower (or more prosaically, a flying saucer) against sweeping bay views. Unfortunately, the exhibits inside the museum are somewhat less inspiring. To get to the MAC from the Niterói ferry terminal, turn right as you leave and walk about 50m across to the bus terminal in the middle of the road; a 47B minibus will drop you at the museum door.
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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.
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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 the economic, religious and social life of Brazil's indigenous people. Next to native food and medicinal plants, the four life-size dwellings in the courtyard were actually built by four different tribes.
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Museu do Primeiro Reinado
A ten-minute walk east of the Quinta da Boa Vista, this former mansion of the Marquesa de Santos depicts the history of the First Reign (the reign of bumbling Dom Pedro I before he was driven out of the country). The collection includes documents, furniture and paintings, but the main attraction is the building and its interior, with striking murals by Francisco Pedro do Amaral.
