Museu da Chácara do Céu

Museu da Chácara do Céu is an art museum in Santa Teresa housing collections of European and Brazilian works in a modernist building. The structure sits on a hillside overlooking Guanabara Bay, with manicured gardens surrounding the property that you can walk through.

The building started as a private residence but became a public museum in 1972 after a foundation was established a decade earlier. This transformation allowed the collection to be shared with the wider public.

Two rooms retain their original furnishings from the time when this was a private residence, displaying pieces that show how an art collector lived and displayed his acquisitions. Walking through these spaces gives you a sense of how someone surrounded themselves with art as part of daily life.

The museum sits in a residential neighborhood on a hillside, so comfortable shoes are recommended if you want to explore the surrounding area. Inside, you will find exhibition spaces spread across multiple levels along with a library holding historical documents.

The collection includes a Brasiliana section with historical maps and 19th-century prints showing Brazilian landscapes and traditional ways of life. These documents offer a rare view of Brazil from two centuries ago as seen through both European and local perspectives.

Location: Rio de Janeiro

Opening Hours: Wednesday-Monday 12:00-17:00

Website: http://museuscastromaya.com.br/chacara.htm

GPS coordinates: -22.91799,-43.18288

Latest update: December 10, 2025 20:04