Niterói Contemporary Art Museum
Museu de Arte Contemporânea de Niterói
Oscar Niemeyer's flying-saucer-shaped museum, perched on a seaside cliff, looking across Guanabara Bay toward Sugarloaf.
The Niterói Contemporary Art Museum opened in 1996 and is one of architect Oscar Niemeyer's late masterpieces. Its white saucer-shaped body rests on a single column at the edge of a seaside cliff. In front is a reflecting pool, and a red spiral ramp leads to the entrance, likened to a flower blooming from the bay. The galleries have circular floor-to-ceiling windows that look out over Guanabara Bay, where you can see Sugarloaf, Christ the Redeemer and central Rio across the water. The collection focuses on Brazilian contemporary art. Admission is about BRL 16, and the museum is closed on Mondays. From Praça XV in Rio, take a ferry for about 20 minutes to Niterói, then a taxi for about 10 minutes.
Opening hours
Tue–Sun 10:00–18:00; closed Mon
Nearby sights
- Ilha Fiscal
- Flamengo Park
- Praça XV & Paço Imperial
- National Museum of Fine Arts
- Theatro Municipal do Rio de Janeiro
- Confeitaria Colombo
- Monastery of São Bento
- Arcos da Lapa (Carioca Aqueduct)