Fortaleza Museums

(Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil)

The museums of Fortaleza are certainly varied and the largest are surprisingly popular, especially with holiday makers looking for an alternative to the plentiful beach attractions.

Standing roughly one block to the north of the Praca do Ferreira, the centrally located Museu do Ceará is one of the most important and visited museums in the city of Fortaleza and clearly documents the history of this Brazilian state.


One attraction for all the family is the Museu do Automovel, which offers something quite different from the city's other museums, since it contains an impressive collection of automobiles, ranging from vintage cars dating from 1917, right up to modern-day sports cars from the late 20th century. Further museums are located close to Fortaleza, in the neighbouring municipalities of Maranguape (the Museu da Cachaca) and Redencao (the Museu Senzala Negro Liberato).

Museu do Ceará (Ceará Museum)

Address: Rua Sao Paulo 51, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil, BR
Tel: +55 085 3101 2606
The extensive exhibits at the Museu do Ceará now number more than 12,500 relics and artefacts, grouped into themes of archaeology, indigenous anthropology and paleontology - with a collection of 75-million year old fossils on display. There is even a stuffed goat named 'Yoyo', who wandered the streets of the city some 100 years ago and became much loved by the locals. This history museum came into being in 1932, when local governor Roberto Carneiro de Mendonca combined forces with the state's Public Archives. The building itself is very grand, with neoclassical architecture, and formerly served as the 19th-century seat of the Ceará government.
Open hours: Tuesday to Friday - 08:30 to 17:00, Saturday - 08:30 to 12:30, Sunday - 14:00 to 17:00
Admission: free

Museu do Automovel (Automobile Museum)

Address: Rua Desembargador Manuel Sales Andrade 70, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil, BR
Tel: +55 085 3273 3129
In total there are just over 60 different cars on display at the Museu do Automovel, the majority of which originate from the USA. If you would like to combine your visit with a shopping trip, then bear in mind that the Shopping Iguatemi mall is just seven blocks away, being reached via the Avenida Coronel Miguel Dias.
Open hours: Tuesday to Saturday - 09:00 to 12:00, 14:00 to 17:00, Sunday - 09:00 to 13:00
Admission: charge

Museu Histórico de Fortaleza (Fortaleza History Museum)

Address: Avenida Visconde de Castro, Mucuripe, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil, BR
Tel: +55 085 263 1115
The Museu Histórico de Fortaleza stands within the Mucuripe Lighthouse on the Avenida Visconde de Castro, which dates from the middle of the 19th century and was actually constructed by a workforce of slaves. Visitors will discover a wealth of information about the early colonization of Ceará, together with information about the history and importance of the actual lighthouse itself. There are also various documents, photographs and paintings relating to key events that have shaped the history of this capital city.
Open hours: Monday to Friday - 08:00 to 17:00, Saturday and Sunday - 08:00 to 12:00
Admission: free

Museu da Imagem e do Som do Ceará - MIS (Museum of Image and Sound of Ceará)

Address: Avenida Barao de Studart 410, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil, BR
Tel: +55 085 264 2462
Located on the Avenida Barao de Studart and within easy walking distance of the Avenida Barao de Studart and coastline, the Museu da Imagem e do Som do Ceará has become an important centre for cataloguing and preserving local history, as well as housing other themed international displays. Some of the more impressive exhibits include a historical French movie projector and Kodak's earliest portable camera.
Open hours: Monday to Friday - 08:00 to 12:00, 14:00 to 18:00
Admission: free