Rio de Janeiro is home to more amazing museums than we can count, and some of the very best happen to be themed around art. If you’re in the mood to explore the rich and diverse art scene of Brazil’s biggest metropolis, here are three museums that you shouldn’t miss for the world.
Niterói Contemporary Art Museum
Legendary architect Oscar Niemeyer designed some of Rio’s most stunning buildings, including the home of the Niterói Contemporary Art Museum. The spaceship-inspired exterior of this building will knock you off your feet before you even step inside, and you’ll get to discover 1,000 works of art across three floors once you’re in.
National Museum of Fine Arts
After exploring Rio’s contemporary art scene, you should also take a moment to learn more about old masters who shaped Brazil’s art history as a whole. Some of their works can be found at the National Museum of Fine Arts, which mostly houses 19th-century paintings and sculptures.
Rio Museum of Art
Museu de Arte do Rio aka MAR hasn’t been around for too long, but it’s growing into one of the city’s leading art museums. It showcases and unique mix of international and Brazilian art, that sheds the light on the people, landscapes, beauty, challenges, and conflicts of this country.
