Museu Nacional de Belas Artes 🇧🇷

Located in downtown Rio de Janeiro near Cinelândia, the Museu Nacional de Belas Artes (National Museum of Fine Arts) is Brazil's premier institution for national art. Officially created in 1937, the museum's roots date back to 1808 when King John VI brought the Portuguese Royal Collection to Brazil.

Step inside to explore a massive collection exceeding 20,000 pieces that span from the High Middle Ages to contemporary art. You will discover the nation's most comprehensive gathering of 19th-century Brazilian paintings and sculptures, alongside drawings, prints, folk art, decorative items, and African art.

As you wander through the grand spaces, take time to admire iconic 19th-century masterpieces by artists like Victor Meirelles, Pedro Américo, and Almeida Júnior, as well as works by modernists such as Cândido Portinari and Tarsila do Amaral. Even the building itself is an artistic achievement: constructed between 1906 and 1908 by architect Adolfo Morales de los Ríos, its eclectic design draws inspiration from the Louvre Museum in Paris, featuring a French Renaissance front façade, Italian Renaissance side façades with intricate mosaics, noble interior marble, and a floor dedicated to plaster copies of ancient statues.

What to see at Museu Nacional de Belas Artes

• Over 20,000 artworks ranging from the High Middle Ages to contemporary art
• Louvre-inspired eclectic building designed by architect Adolfo Morales de los Ríos
• Famous 19th-century Brazilian paintings by Victor Meirelles and Pedro Américo
• A specialized collection and gallery of plaster copies of ancient statues
• Exterior side façades adorned with Parisian mosaics depicting masters like da Vinci

Visiting tips

Be sure to examine the building's exterior architectural details, from the French Renaissance front pediment to the side mosaics depicting famous art theorists and masters like Vasari and da Vinci.

How long: 2-3 hours · Best time: Morning

How to get there & what’s nearby

Museu Nacional de Belas Artes is easy to reach on Rio de Janeiro’s public transport, and pairs naturally with Christ the Redeemer and Sugarloaf Mountain. For where to stay, the weather and full itineraries, see our Rio de Janeiro travel guide.