Júlio de Castilhos Museum

The Júlio de Castilhos Museum is a history museum in Porto Alegre's historic center that documents the development of Rio Grande do Sul through more than 10,000 objects, photographs, and documents from different periods. The collection combines artworks, everyday items, and written records to show how the region changed over centuries.

The museum was founded in 1887 and is the oldest museum in Rio Grande do Sul, named after a former governor who served two terms and shaped the region. The institution emerged during a period when people began to systematically collect and preserve the history of this area.

The collection displays artworks created by Jesuits and indigenous peoples during the missionary period, reflecting the artistic heritage of the region. These pieces offer insight into the creative exchange and cultural interaction of that era.

The visit is straightforward to plan: the museum sits in the historic city center and is accessible by public transport. Plan to spend enough time there, as the collection is substantial and deserves a leisurely exploration.

The museum preserves a reconstructed bedroom of the person it is named after, furnished with original pieces and possessions from his final years. This room offers an intimate look into the personal life of an important figure from the region's past.