More than 3,000 museums in Brazil, present in all states of the country, offer visitors unique opportunities to learn a lot about Brazilian and international history. Recently, the quality of the various collections available to the public helped Brazil secure sixth place in a ranking of the most visited exhibitions in the world, organized in 2017 by The Art Newspaper.
Check below some information about the most sought-after museums in the country:
National Museum of Fine Arts (Rio de Janeiro)
Officially created in 1937 by decree of President Getúlio Vargas, the National Museum of Fine Arts is located in the historic center of Rio de Janeiro. The building that houses its collection was originally designed in 1908 by architect Adolfo Morales de los Rios to host the National School of Fine Arts, the successor to the Imperial Academy of Fine Arts. Today, the museum occupies an area of 17,000 m² and offers a vast collection that narrates the history of fine arts in Brazil from its beginnings to the present day. www.mnba.gov.br
Niterói Contemporary Art Museum – MAC (Rio de Janeiro)
Housed in a breathtaking building overlooking Guanabara Bay, designed by Oscar Niemeyer, the Niterói Contemporary Art Museum is one of the symbols of the metropolitan region of Rio de Janeiro. The works on display include the João Sattamini collection, which features around 1,300 works ranging from the 1950s to the present day, in addition to the museum’s own collection, formed by donations. www.culturaniteroi.com.br
São Paulo Assis Chateaubriand Art Museum – MASP (São Paulo)
The São Paulo Art Museum, a private non-profit institution founded in 1947 by the famous businessman Assis Chateaubriand (1892-1968), is considered the first modern art museum in the country. In addition to the constantly evolving permanent exhibition in the museum’s main gallery, MASP also presents collective and individual exhibitions throughout the year, articulated around thematic areas. www.masp.org.br
São Paulo Museum of Fine Arts (São Paulo)
Founded in 2007, the São Paulo Museum of Fine Arts (MUBA) aims to document the development of arts, communication, architecture, and design through exhibitions focused on contemporary art. The institution also conducts historical and cultural research. Highlighted items include collections of design, painting, sculpture, and drawing. www.muba.com.br
Bahia Modern Art Museum – MAM (Bahia)
The MAM is located in a 16th-century building bathed by the Bay of All-Saints, offering one of the most spectacular sunset views in Salvador. Today, it is considered the epicenter of contemporary art in Bahia, with five exhibition rooms that frequently host works by renowned national and international artists. The museum features an open-air gallery (Sculpture Park), a cinema, and the Rubem Valentim Room. Artistic and cultural events from various perspectives and educational and artistic initiatives are a constant presence in MAM’s programming. www.jamnomam.com.br
Pampulha Art Museum (Minas Gerais)
The building that currently houses the Pampulha Art Museum (MAP) was 
the first designed by Oscar Niemeyer for the Pampulha Modern Complex in Belo Horizonte (the capital of Minas Gerais). Overlooking the Pampulha Lagoon, the museum has a collection of about 1,500 works that are periodically exhibited to the general public in exhibitions produced by cultural spaces in Belo Horizonte and other cities in the state. MAP also constantly offers guided tours, technical and mediated visits, including workshops, activities, and practical exercises, as well as meetings and debates with artists and guests. www.facebook.com/map.fmc/
Inhotim Institute (Minas Gerais)
Located about 60 km from the state capital Belo Horizonte, Inhotim Institute 
is the largest open-air contemporary art center in the world. Its attractions include a botanical collection with rare species from all continents, in addition to 22 pavilions and galleries featuring works by over 100 artists from 30 countries. The installations, sculptures, drawings, photos, and videos on display often impress, enchant, and move visitors from all over the world. www.inhotim.org.br
Imperial Museum (Rio de Janeiro)
The Imperial Museum has the largest collection in the country of items 
related to the Brazilian empire (especially the so-called Second Reign, the period when Brazil was ruled by Dom Pedro II), comprising approximately 300,000 museum, archival, and bibliographic pieces available to researchers and others interested in the subject. The museum also maintains a full schedule of events, exhibitions, and educational projects on its premises. www.museuimperial.gov.br
Source: www.brazil.gov.br