Museu Paulista

The Museu Paulista, popularly known as the Ipiranga Museum, is one of São Paulo's grandest and most important museums, housed in an imposing, palace-like neoclassical building set in formal gardens, deliberately evoking Versailles. It stands on the historic spot beside the Ipiranga brook where, in 1822, Prince Pedro is said to have proclaimed Brazil's independence from Portugal with the cry 'Independência ou Morte!' (Independence or Death). Fittingly, the museum is dedicated to Brazilian history, with collections of furniture, art, documents, and artefacts, including the monumental painting 'Independência ou Morte' by Pedro Américo, a national icon. The building and its beautiful gardens are an attraction in themselves.

After a long, major restoration and expansion, the museum reopened with greatly enhanced exhibitions. It's a fitting place to engage with the story of Brazil's nationhood, and the gardens make a lovely setting. Allow a couple of hours for the museum and grounds. It sits in the Ipiranga district, away from the centre.

Don't miss

• The grand Versailles-inspired palace and gardens
• The site of Brazil's 1822 independence proclamation
• The iconic painting 'Independência ou Morte'
• Collections on Brazilian history and society
• A sweeping recent restoration and new exhibits

Tickets & tours

Ways to visit Museu Paulista

Cheapest way inLisbon SL Benfica Stadium & Museum Tour with Scarf4.3★ · 353 travelers1–4 hoursFree cancellationFrom$17 per personSee dates →Best full daySão Paulo’s Full Day City Tour: Main City Sights – (Shared Group)4.9★ · 1,835 travelers~7 hoursFree cancellationFrom$79 per personSee dates →Private & flexibleWalking Tour São Paulo Center: Historical Process Of The Largest City in Brazil5★ · 24 travelers3–4 hoursFree cancellationFrom$113 per personSee dates →

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Know before you go

• The palace-like building and formal gardens are an attraction in themselves.
• It stands where Brazil's independence was proclaimed in 1822.
• Don't miss the monumental 'Independência ou Morte' painting.
• It reopened in 2022 after a major restoration, exhibits are much enhanced.

A bit of history

The monumental building was completed in 1895 to commemorate Brazilian independence, on the site of its 1822 proclamation by the Ipiranga brook. It became the Museu Paulista, affiliated with the University of São Paulo, and reopened in 2022 (Brazil's bicentennial) after a sweeping restoration.