Museums and galleries in Recife

Museums and galleries in Recife

1. See

   Abolition Museum

   Museu da Abolição

   Museum that covers the period of slavery and the abolitionist movement in 19th-century Brazil. Former plantation house. Former residence of Counsellor João Alfredo, leader of Brazil's abolitionist movement in the 19th century.

2. See

   Aluísio Magalhães Modern Art Museum

   Museu de Arte Moderna Aluísio Magalhães - MAMAM

   Modern art from the 1920s until the present day on display in seven rooms of a 19th century mansion. There is also a library with literature about modern art.

   Tue-Sun 12:00-18:00

3. See

   Military Museum Brum Fortress

   Museu Militar Forte do Brum

   Military museum in a fort, displaying military equipment from colonial times up to WWII.

4. See

   Museu Franciscano de Arte Sacra

   Founded in 1974, it's a museum of religious items such as vestments, statues and chandeliers.

5. See

   Museum of Archeology of the Catholic University of Pernambuco

   Museu de Arqueologia da Universidade Católica de Pernambuco

   Archeological museum focused on indigenous artifacts. Located at the Catholic University of Pernambuco.

6. See

   Museum of Natural History Louis Jacques Brunet

   Museu de História Natural Louis Jacques Brunet

   Created in 1861, it is one of the first natural history museums in Latin America. Located at Ginásio Pernambucano. Collection spans archeology, botany, geology and zoology.

7. See

   Museum of the Archeological, Historic and Geographic Institute of Pernambuco

   Museu do Instituto Arqueológico, Histórico e Geográfico de Pernambuco

   The oldest museum in Brazil, established in 1866. It has extensive collections about the history of Pernambuco from prehistoric to colonial times.

   Mon-Fri 13:00-17:00, Sat 08:00-12:00

8. Buy

   Paço Alfândega

   A visit to Paço Alfândega is highly recommended. Paço Alfândega (Customs' Palace in Portuguese) is a comfortable, modern shopping mall set in the renovated structure of a colonial customs house building from the early 1700s, during which Recife was the largest port in the Americas. There is a permanent historic exhibition on the history of Recife and the customs building. The mall also houses one of Recife's main nightclubs and some good restaurants. You can have a good view of the Capibaribe River and its bridges from the main terrace.

   Mon-Sat 10:00-22:00, Sun 12:00-20:00

9. See

   Pernambuco Image and Sound Museum

   Museu da Imagem e do Som de Pernambuco - MISPE

   Holds more than 6,000 pieces, including movies, records, photographs, postcards and the like. Uses modern audivisual techniques to document Pernambuco's culture.

   Mon-Fri 09:00-17:00, Sat Sun 13:00-17:00

10. See Not mapped

    Convento Franciscano de Santo Antônio

    Franciscan Convent of Saint Anthony

    One of the city's biggest attractions, a convent containing the ostentatious Capela Dourada (Golden Chapel), which certainly lives up to its name. Built in 1588, it is one of the most beautiful baroque churches in Brazil. Altar with gold-covered engravings, beautiful paintings on the ceiling and impressive amount of Portuguese-style tiled panels. This is one of the main sights in Recife. The interior of rosewood and cedar is completely covered with gold. You will find similar churches full of splendour only in Salvador da Bahia or Ouro Preto. The convent also houses the Museu Franciscano de Arte Sagrada (Franciscan Museum of Sacred Art).

    Mon-Fri 08:00-11:30, 14:00-17:00; Sat 08:00-11:30·R$2

11. See Not mapped

    Museum of the Northeastern Man

    Museu do Homem do Nordeste

    Part of the Fundação Joaquim Nabuco. This fantastic museum depicts the various folk arts, traditions, and history of Northeast Brazil. The displays are divided among three sections, focusing on sugar, folk arts, and anthropology. It's in the suburbs, but well worth the ride out.

    Tue-Fri 08:30-17:00; Sat Sun 13:00-17:00; closed Jan 1, Carnaval, Mar 6, Good Fri, Jun 24, Dec 25

12. See Not mapped

    Museum of the State of Pernambuco

    Museu do Estado de Pernambuco

    Objects from the history of the state on display, from a Dutch bronze cannon to Afro-Brazilian art.

    Tue-Fri 10:00-17:00, Sat Sun 14:00-17:00

13. See Not mapped

    Nossa Senhora da Conceição dos Militares

    Our Lady of the Conception of the Military

    Built in 1726. The 1781 ceiling paintings depict the Guararapes Battle against the Dutch. Leaders from the Praieira Revolution and the Paraguay War are buried in the church. The church also houses the Museu de Arte Sacra Padre Roberto Barbalho (Father Roberto Barbalho Museum of Sacred Art).

14. See Not mapped

    Parque Dois Irmãos

    Two Brothers Park

    A zoo and botanical garden park, with 387 hectares of Atlantic Forest and 14 hectares of botanical gardens. The zoo has around 800 types of animals. The grounds also hold the Natural Science Museum and a number of ecological trails.

    Tue-Sun 08:00-16:00·R$2

15. See Not mapped

    Pernambucan School

    Ginásio Pernambucano

    Built in the second quarter of the 19th century, it is one of Brazil's oldest secondary schools. The school's Louis Jacques Brunet Natural History Museum was one of the first in Latin America. Father Carapuceiro, Barbosa Lima Sobrinho, Epitácio Pessoa and Ariano Suassuna were either teachers or students here. The school was visited by Emperor Dom Pedro II.

16. See Not mapped

    Recife City Museum

    Museu da Cidade do Recife

    Inside the 17th-century Five Pointed Fort, the former Fort Frederik Hendrik. Presenting the history of the city.

    Mon-Fri 09:00-18:00, Sat Sun 13:00-17:00

17. See Not mapped

    Train Museum

    Museu do Trem

    The Train Museum is in the old Central Train Station, which now also serves as the central station for MetroREC, Recife's subway system.

    Mon-Thu 13:00-18:00, Fri 08:00-12:00

18. See

    Museu de Arte Sacra Padre Roberto Barbalho

    The museum contains religious artifacts.

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Recife (CC BY-SA 4.0).