the museu de arte contemporânea is located across the bay in niterói - a distance from which one gains a favourable perspective to see all the sights of the marvelous city at once.

established in 1996 under the direction of renowned brazilian architect oscar niemeyer (the same man who designed brasília, the futuristic brazilian capital), the contemporary art museum - mac is a thing of exceptional beauty itself, not even counting the magnificent view of its surroundings.  

in fact, the patio has different visiting hours than the museum itself to accommodate those who come just to admire the outside of the museum and its surroundings.