Some of Rio’s best museums are set within incredible natural beauty, surrounded by views that take the breath away; attractions that combine the best of both worlds making a excellent day out. So take advantage of this great 2 for 1 deal that only Rio can offer you, the chance to appreciate beautiful works of art indoors and rich natural beauty outdoors.
Fresh open air and lush greenery is what you will find in this beautiful neo-colonial mansion in Alto da Boa Vista. The property’s gardens host exhibitions as works of art integrate themselves among natural beauty creating a unique outdoor-gallery setting. Don’t miss art collector Castro Maya’s fine collection of paintings depicting Rio’s enchanting landscape.
After years of renovation Praça Mauá has reopened to the public, the jewel in the crown of the new Porto Maravilha district. In the museum you can visit the best exhibitions the city has to offer meanwhile from the top of the building you can take in Rio’s new skyline/horizon featuring Guanabara Bay, the Rio-Niterói Bridge and the Museu do Amanhã (Museum of Tomorrow).
This museum was conceived in the 1950s as part of the Aterro do Flamengo urbanization project and has a beautiful position on Rio’s coast, looking out over Guanabara Bay and Sugarloaf. From the museum one can also appreciate the view of Roberto Burle Max’s still-impressive landscaping project that gave way to the famous Aterro do Flamengo. The gardens make a perfect setting for a picnic.
Casa do Pontal is set back within an area of 9,000 square metres between Prainha and the Pedra Branca Ecological Reserve, one of the biggest urban forests in the world. Within this incredibly charming mansion are its galleries which house one of the biggest collections of popular art in Brazil. The birdsong provides a tranquil accompaniment while you enjoy the works of art.
Sitting at the top of Santa Teresa with a 360° panorama over the city, the museum owes its name to its celestial views and its delightful gardens which date back to 1876. Paintings, sketches and engravings by revered European artists such as Matisse, Modigliani and Miró are juxtaposed with works by modern Brazilian maestros such as Di Calvacanti, Iberê Camargo and Antônio Bandeira.Add to this a major ensemble of works by Portinari and you have an unmissable museum visit.
