ideally situated, high up in the santa teresa neighborhood, a little away from the city center, parque das ruinas is not only a site of historical and cultural significance, but is blessed with stunning views of rio de janeiro, overlooking the city center, and the whole guanabara bay.

in the southern zone of rio de janeiro, in the gávea district, is the instituto moreira salles. founded by walter moreira salles in 1990, this non-profit organization and private cultural institute focuses on photography, literature, visual arts and brazilian music. 

also in the south of the city, in the neighborhood of ipanema, is the casa da cultura laura alvim, a beach-front property which is museum, gallery, cinema, and theatre, all rolled into one.

set back a few blocks from the beach in ipanema is toca do vinícius, a bossa nova lover's delight, with a shop on the ground floor.  upstairs there is a small museum dedicated to the songwriter and poet vinícius de moraes, and a monthly bossa/samba concert.