Porto Alegre Museums

(Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil)

Being founded in 1742, Porto Alegre is a city of much history, and this is both celebrated and documented within a number of its museums. These include the Museu Historico Júlio de Castilhos, which is actually the oldest museum in the entire state of Rio Grande do Sul, dating back to the beginning of the 20th century.

Located within Porto Alegre's popular Jardim Botanico (Botanical Gardens), the Museu de Ciencias Naturais contains a wealth of fossils and similar paleontology exhibits, most of which were excavated from Paleorrota - a Brazilian geopark sited in the centre of Rio Grande do Sul.

Museu Historico Júlio de Castilhos (Júlio de Castilhos Museum)

Address: Rua Duque de Caxias 1231, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, BR
Tel: +55 051 3221 3959
Boasting a collection comprising more than 10,000 individual pieces, the exhibits at the Museu Historico Júlio de Castilhos showcase the rich regional national heritage and include a group of important archaeological relics, together with artefacts relating to both the War of the Farrapos / Tatters (1835 to 1845) and the War of the Triple Alliance / Paraguayan War (1864 to 1870). There are also some historical sculptures created by indigenous natives and Jesuits.
Open hours: Tuesday to Friday - 10:00 to 19:00, Saturday and Sunday - 13:30 to 17:00
Admission: free

Museu Joaquim José Felizardo (Joaquim José Felizardo Museum)

Address: Rua Joao Alfredo 582, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, BR
Tel: +55 051 3226 7560
Founded in 1979 and located on the Rua Joao Alfredo, close to the Casa de Cultura Mário Quintana (Mário Quintana House of Culture), the Museu Joaquim José Felizardo stands in the Cidade Baixa quarter and within the house of Lopo Goncalves. Visitors will find numerous colonial treasures and artefacts, together with photography exhibits, cultural activities and seasonal courses. Just a short stroll away are the shopping attractions lining the Rua dos Andradas.
Open hours: Tuesday to Sunday - 09:00 to 12:00, 13:30 to 18:00
Admission: free

Museu de Ciencias e Tecnologia da PUCRS (Museum of Science and Technology)

Address: Avenida Ipiranga 6681, Building 40, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, BR
Tel: +55 051 3320 3597
Established at the end of 1998 and part of the Pontificia Universidade Catolica, the Museu de Ciencias e Tecnologia da PUC is located on the south-eastern side of the city centre, on the Avenida Ipiranga and within the Parthenon neighbourhood. There are an array of exhibits onsite covering all aspects of science, such as astronomy, biology, physics and man. The permanent exhibition space contains approximately 700 hands-on displays, while the total collection numbers more than one million pieces.
Open hours: Tuesday to Sunday - 09:00 to 17:00
Admission: charge, discounts for students and children

Museu de Ciencias Naturais da Fundacao Zoobotanica do Rio Grande (Museum of Natural Sciences)

Address: Jardim Botanico, Rua Doutor Salvador Franca 1427, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, BR
Tel: +55 051 3320 2024
Popular with all ages, the Museu de Ciencias Naturais da Fundacao Zoobotanica do Rio Grande was established in 1954 and features a permanent exhibition relating to the richness of the state's flora and fauna, with dioramas depicting various local ecosystems, such as swamps and forests.
Open hours: Tuesday to Sunday - 09:00 to 12:00, 13:30 to 17:00
Admission: charge, discounts for students and seniors, children 12 years old and under are free