The official website says MAR is temporarily closed. Check before you go.
On Praça Mauá, a few steps from the Museum of Tomorrow, MAR — the Rio Art Museum — is a museum devoted to the city itself: its history, its people, its contradictions and its art. It opened on March 1, 2013, Rio’s birthday.
The museum occupies two very different neighboring buildings: the eclectic-style Palacete Dom João VI and a modernist building that once served as a bus terminal. To link them, the firm Bernardes + Jacobsen designed an undulating roof, like a wave floating over both buildings, which has become the museum’s signature.
The visit starts at the top: you go up to the roof of the modernist building, cross a suspended walkway to the palacete and then work your way down, floor by floor, through the galleries. The exhibitions explore Rio’s history, society and art, mixing artworks, documents, photographs and everyday objects.
Beyond the exhibitions, MAR houses the Escola do Olhar (School of Looking), an education program for teachers, students and local residents. The idea is for the museum to be a place of learning and meeting, not just of visiting — something you can feel in the atmosphere of the building.
The highlight, besides the shows, is the terrace: under the wavy roof, the view takes in Guanabara Bay, Praça Mauá and the Museum of Tomorrow. It is a great spot for a break and for photos, especially in the late afternoon, when the light turns golden over the bay.
Tips: check the program and opening hours on the official website before you go, and allow at least an hour and a half for the exhibitions and the terrace. Combine the visit with the Museum of Tomorrow, across the square, and a stroll along the Orla Conde. Come and go by ride-hailing app.
Official website: Museu de Arte do Rio ↗