The 10 museums in Brazil to learn more about history and art

For a variety of people, going to the museum is not just seen as simple leisure. It is, in fact, an opportunity to learn and look at the past, present and future of a society in a different way.

In a country as large and diverse as Brazil, museums have a lot to teach about the nation's territorial, historical and cultural background.

Information about its collections and characteristics are based on the official websites of each museum, and the state or municipality to which they belong. Check the list below:

1. Afro-Brazilian Museum, in Salvador

Located in the historic center of Salvador, Bahia, this museum was founded in 1982 with the aim of spreading African and Afro-Brazilian culture, having more than 1,100 pieces in its collection.

Those who go to the Afro-Brazilian Museum will find collections of plastic arts, religious artifacts linked to Candomblé, capoeira instruments, sculptures, masks and other items that rescue the history and culture of African and Afro-descendant peoples.

2. Historical Museum of Brasilia

Designed by architect Oscar Niemeyer, the Museu Histórico de Brasília was opened in 1960 – on the same day as the inauguration of the federal capital – representing a historic landmark.

The institution has a permanent exhibition with historical inscriptions that refer to the construction of Brasília, considered a great architectural feat. Of all the sights in the capital, this is one that deserves to be visited by anyone interested in history.

3. Museum of Art of São Paulo Assis Chateaubriand, in São Paulo

The Museu de Arte de São Paulo Assis Chateaubriand – known by the acronym MASP – is perhaps the most famous in all of Brazil, having been founded in 1947.

Currently, it brings together around 10,000 works, including works by some of the most famous artists in the world, such as Vincent van Gogh, Pablo Picasso, Claude Monet, among others.

Furthermore, the Masp building, located on Avenida Paulista, has become a postcard of the city of São Paulo due to its architectural beauty.

4. Museum of Indigenous Cultures, in São Paulo

To know the history of Brazil, it is necessary to know more about the original peoples.

In the city of São Paulo, it is possible to visit the Museum of Indigenous Cultures, whose management is shared with representatives of different indigenous peoples, says the official website of the institution.

In addition to the items on display, the museum also stands out for organizing various events related to art, culture and indigenous experience.

5. Ipiranga Museum, in São Paulo

Built between 1885 and 1990, the Ipiranga Museum underwent a process of restoration and modernization, reopening to the public in 2022, after being closed for nine years.

The collection has more than 3,000 items, such as paintings, sculptures, objects, furniture, coins, photographs and documents. Most are dated to the 19th and 20th centuries, but there are older items that date back to Brazil's colonial period.

The highlight of the collection is the painting “Independence or Death” (1888), by the Brazilian artist Pedro Américo, one of the most emblematic works of the country.

6. Inconfidência Museum, in Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais

The Museu da Inconfidência is an obligatory stop in the Minas Gerais town of Ouro Preto, gathering important objects and historical documents about the revolutionary movement of the 18th century, which had Tiradentes as its best known member.

In a special room, called the Panteão dos Inconfidentes, are the remains of some of the participants of the Inconfidência Mineira. The museum also has works of sacred art from the 18th and 19th centuries, sculptures by Aleijadinho and paintings by Mestre Ataíde.

7. Inhotim Institute, in Brumadinho, Minas Gerais

In Brumadinho, also in Minas Gerais, visitors can visit the Inhotim Institute, a contemporary art museum with more than 1,862 works by 280 artists. A difference is that the pieces are displayed outdoors.

The Institute also has a botanical garden with over 4,300 rare botanical species from all continents. In other words, it is an experience that combines art, culture and nature at the same time.

8. Oscar Niemeyer Museum, in Curitiba

The Oscar Niemeyer Museum is popularly known as the “Museum of the Eye”. The reason is an annex whose shape resembles precisely the organ responsible for vision and which was designed by the famous architect who gives the space its name.

In addition to the exhibitions it frequently hosts, the Oscar Niemeyer Museum has a rich collection in the areas of visual arts, design, architecture, among others.

9. Floriano Peixoto Palace Museum, in Maceió

Located in an imposing historic building, the Palácio Floriano Peixoto Museum is the former official seat of the government of Alagoas. The structure was turned into a museum 17 years ago, in 2006.

The collection includes works of art, decorations and furniture from the 19th and 20th centuries that allow for a true “travel in time”. Due to its beauty, the building is also commonly used for photo shoots.

10. Museum of the Amazon, in Manaus

Focusing on the nature and culture of the Amazon region, the Museum of the Amazon was founded in 2009 and offers visitors a broad view of this very important part of Brazil and the world.

Among the highlights of the institution are the trails through the Forest Reserve that allow you to see and hear the enormous diversity of animals, leaves, plants and trees. There are also nurseries with native species and temporary exhibitions that bring, for example, photographs of the indigenous people of the Amazon.