The Top Museums And Art Galleries In Olinda Brazil

As the bohemian and artistic epicenter of northern Brazil, it should come as no surprise to find a plethora of fine museums and galleries spread throughout this charming colonial town. From traveling puppet exhibitions to fine contemporary art, here are the best places to get your culture fix in Olinda.

1. Museu de Arte Contemporânea

Art Gallery, Museum

Art lovers would do well to swing by this cute little contemporary art gallery. Set in a former colonial-era jail, the museum hosts an impressive collection of works from some of the biggest names in Brazil.

Museu de Arte Contemporânea, R. Treze de Maio, 149 – Carmo, Olinda – PE, Brazil +55 81 3184-3153

MAC | © Prefeitura de Olinda/Flickr

2. Museu de Arte Sacra

Museum

Those who like their art a little more holy should check out this impressive sacred art museum. Many of the statues, paintings, and ornaments on display date back centuries and there is plenty of interesting information as to how Catholicism became so widespread in the region.

Museu de Arte Sacra de Pernambuco, R. Bpo. Coutinho – Carmo, Olinda – PE, Brazil +55 81 3184-3154

Sacred Art Museum, Olinda | © Museu de Arte Sacra/Flickr

3. Mamulengo Museum

Museum

Perhaps Olinda’s quirkiest museum, this whimsical house is dedicated to the Mamulengo, a kind of traveling puppet show that is adored throughout northeast Brazil. Most of the thousand-odd colorful handcrafted dolls represent local figures such as saints, politicians, or folk heroes and the larger ones are often incorporated into the city’s carnival.

5. Espaço Ciência Museu

Museum

Shared between Olinda and the neighboring metropolis of Recife, this superb space, science, and technology museum hosts a number of exhibits across a broad range of fields. Fiberglass dinosaur displays and nighttime astral observation sessions are particularly popular with the kids.

Espaço Ciência Museu, Salgadinho, Olinda – State of Pernambuco, Brazil +55 81 3241-3226

Museum display | © Universidade de Brasília/Flickr

6. Atelier Vilanova

As the private gallery of Sergio Vilanova, one of the region’s most popular painters, Atelier Vilanova features a dizzying array of his most colorful creations, many of which are up for sale. Sergio himself lives upstairs and has been known to come down to interact with the public from time to time.

Atelier Vilanova, R. do Amparo, 224 – Amparo, Olinda – PE, Brazil +55 81 3494-3955
A post shared by Miguel Igreja (@miguel_igreja) on Jan 10, 2017 at 9:26am PST

7. A Casa do Cachorro Preto

Become fully submerged into the Olinda arts scene by paying a visit to the Black Dog House, a happening cultural cafe that showcases a rotating selection of works from up and coming local artists. During the evenings, events such as movie nights or live music shows are a great opportunity to interact with the artists themselves.
A Casa do Cachorro Preto, R. Treze de Maio, 99 – Carmo, Olinda – PE, Brazil +55 81 98200-1399
A post shared by Libre Promo (@librepromo) on May 26, 2017 at 9:28am PDT

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