at a glance

while not as famous as the landmark ufo-shaped mac museum, most impressive of all of niterói's museums is perhaps the museu do ingá, housed in a nineteenth century mansion.                      

after it was purchased by the governor of rio de janeiro state in 1903, it served as the governor's residence and government headquarters until the return of the capital to rio in the 1970s. from then it served under various functions until it was finally incorporated into the museum of history and art of the state of rio de janeiro in 1991.

today it has around 4,800 items including period furniture, clothing, art, house wares and photographs; relics from festivals and everyday life of afro-brazilian and indigenous cultures are on display as well.  

museum hours are wednesday through friday from 12-5 pm and weekends and holidays from 3-5 pm, with free admission.