Recife Museums

(Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil)

The cultural attractions of Recife spill next door into Olinda, and together these two cities boast in excess of 20 museums, with further offerings being found in the Pernambuco cities of Carpina, Goiana, Igarassu and Jaboatao dos Guararapes.

In Recife itself, some of the most visited museums include the Museu Militar Forte do Brum, the Museu do Homem do Nordeste and the Museu da Cidade, each of which has something interesting to offer visitors. Families holidaying in Recife will no doubt enjoy paying a visit to the Museu de Ciencias Naturais (Natural Sciences Museum), especially since it is located within the popular Parque Dois Irmaos (Zoo Botanical Park Dois Irmaos).

Museu Militar Forte do Brum / Museu de Armas (Military Museum at the Brum Fortress)

Address: Praca Comunidade Luso Brasileira, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil, BR
Tel: +55 081 3224 4620
Part of the Instituto Ricardo Brennand (Ricardo Brennand Institute) on the Praca Comunidade Luso Brasileira, the Museu Militar is home to a mixture of both English and Portuguese weaponry, including some very old examples of cannons and guns. Visitors can also expect to find medieval armour and daggers from the 16th century, together with relics relating to the part played by the Brazilian Air Force during the Second World War.
Open hours: Tuesday to Friday - 09:00 to 16:30, Saturday and Sunday - 13:30 to 17:00
Admission: charge

Museu do Homem do Nordeste (Museum of the Northeastern Man)

Address: Avenida 17 de Agosto 2187, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil, BR
Tel: +55 081 3441 5500
Located in the Casa Forte area of the Zona Norte, the Museu do Homem do Nordeste literally translates as the 'Museum of the Northeastern Man' and is dedicated to the culture and history of Pernambuco. Exhibits here are grouped into three categories - slavery and the lifestyle of the northeastern settlers (Africans, Indians and Portuguese), the production of sugarcane, and religious and folkloric traditions. This museum may stand in the suburbs, but is worth making the effort to visit, being easy to reach by buses departing from the Central Post Office
Open hours: Tuesday to Friday - 08:30 to 17:00, Saturday and Sunday - 13:00 to 17:00
Admission: charge

Museu da Cidade (City Museum)

Address: Forte das Cinco Pontas, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil, BR
Tel: +55 081 3224 8492
The Museu da Cidade is to be found within the 17th-century Forte das Cinco Pontas (Five-Pointed Fortress) and is brimming with regional history and local relics. There are many paintings and diagrams depicting the city in its earlier incarnations, during the period of its Dutch rule.
Open hours: Monday to Friday - 09:00 to 18:00, Saturday and Sunday - 13:00 to 17:00
Admission: charge

Casa Museu Gilberto Freyre (House and Museum of Gilberto Freyre / Gilberto Freyre Foundation)

Address: Rua Jorge Tasso Neto, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil, BR
Tel: +55 081 3441 1733
A charming farmhouse built in the 18th century and once the home of renowned Brazilian historian, congressman, sociologist and anthropologist Gilberto de Mello Freyre (1900 to 1987), the Casa Museu Gilberto Freyre immortalizes the life of this much-loved local. Exhibits include many of Freyre's personal belongings, such as paintings, handicrafts, antiques and a large collection of books, while the surrounding gardens and trails add further interest.
Open hours: Monday to Friday - 09:00 to 16:30
Admission: charge

Museu de Valores (Museum of Money / Currency)

Address: Rua da Aurora 1259, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil, BR
The Museu de Valores stands within the office of the Central Bank of Brazil and remembers the history of Brazil's monetary system. However, not only are Brazilian coins and notes on display, but also more than 200 different currencies from around the world. Other highlights include some old maps and artefacts discovered during excavation work at nearby Fort Orange, on the island of Itamaracá.
Open hours: Monday to Friday - 09:00 to 16:00
Admission: charge

Museu de Ciencias Naturais (Natural Sciences Museum)

Address: Praca Faria Neves, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil, BR
The Museu de Ciencias Naturais is just one of many attractions to be found in the Parque Dois Irmaos (Zoo Botanical Park Dois Irmaos). Inside are a series of exhibits relating to the world of nature, with animal specimens and information about the region's diverse flora and fauna.
Open hours: Tuesday to Sunday - 08:00 to 17:00
Admission: charge