Discover São Paulo’s oldest art gallery, the Pinacoteca do Estado. See an outdoor sculpture garden and a vast collection of Brazilian art housed in a large 19th-century estate. The Pinacoteca do Estado is the city’s most important art gallery and one of the most popular attractions in São Paulo. Find your favourite works by Brazilian masters, explore the marble and bronze statues in the sculpture garden and take a walk through the surrounding park, Jardim da Luz.
Before entering the museum, notice the brick façade of the building. The Pinacoteca de Estado dates back to 1905. In the 1990s, the building was largely remodelled, but its long heritage is still visible inside and outside.
The museum’s permanent collection contains 9,000 pieces. It’s possible to spend several hours browsing the works on display. Most of the collection consists of art by 19th- and 20th-century Brazilian artists. Look for works by some of the most famous names in Brazilian art, including Almeida Junior, Oscar Pereira da Silva and Antônio Parreiras. Pass through the Tactile Gallery of Brazilian Sculpture to see busts and other statues.
Temporary exhibitions are shown on the first floor of the Pinacoteca de Estado. The museum often features renowned travelling exhibitions from around the world. Have a coffee at the museum café or buy some postcards featuring your favourite works in the museum’s collection at the gift shop.
Head outside to tour the museum’s landscaped sculpture garden. Continue on into the Jardim da Luz to walk among ponds, flowerbeds and lawns.
Reach the Pinacoteca do Estado via the Luz subway station, which is located just next to the entrance. Metered parking lines the streets around the museum for those arriving by car. There is an entry fee for the museum, except on Thursday evenings and during the day on Saturdays. The Pinacoteca do Estado is closed on Mondays.
