Museum
Bahia Museum of Art
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The Bahia Museum of Art, in Salvador, is the oldest museum in the state of Bahia and one of the first ten founded in Brazil. It holds 5,000 works of art, including religious sculptures, paintings, ceramics, photographs, documents, and glass art. The collection spans Brazilian, Oriental, and European decorative arts, with pieces by artists such as José Teófilo de Jesus and Presciliano Silva. The museum also has a library of 12,000 books and exhibits of plastic arts.
Don't miss
- 5,000 works including religious sculptures, paintings, ceramics, and glass art
- Brazilian, Oriental, and European decorative arts
- Works by artists José Teófilo de Jesus, José Joaquim da Rocha, and Presciliano Silva
- A library with 12,000 books and plastic arts exhibits
- 19th-century tiles and a collection of marble statues
- Collections of historian Góis Calmon
Tickets & tours
Ways to visit Bahia Museum of Art
You can visit Bahia Museum of Art on your own. A guide mainly adds context, what you are looking at and why it matters, and a tour can add transport or combine nearby sights into one day.
Cheapest way inTransfer Salvador Airport / Hotel in Salvador4.9★ · 82 travelers1-2 hoursFree cancellationFrom$29 per personSee dates →
Most bookedPrivate Walking Tour of Salvador Pelourinho4.9★ · 315 travelers2-3 hoursFree cancellationFrom$60 per personSee dates →
Private & flexiblePrivate Full-Day Tour - Salvador's Lower & Upper City5★ · 54 travelers~7 hoursFree cancellationFrom$130 per personSee dates →Know before you go
- The museum is housed in the Vitória Palace, a former government building.
- The on-site library holds 12,000 books, complementing the art exhibits.
A bit of history
Founded in 1918, the museum originally focused on preserving Salvador’s historical and ethnographic heritage before expanding into the arts. In 1982, it moved to the Vitória Palace, formerly the headquarters of the Secretary of Education. In 2019, it received the Diploma and Medal for Museological Merit from the Brazilian Regional Museology Council. In 2020, it joined Google Arts & Culture, adding an adapted Google Street View of its interior.
Common questions
What kind of art can I see at the Bahia Museum of Art?
The museum has 5,000 works including religious sculptures, paintings, ceramics, photographs, documents, and glass art, with Brazilian, Oriental, and European decorative arts.
Who are some of the artists featured?
Works by Brazilian artists José Teófilo de Jesus, José Joaquim da Rocha, Alberto Valença, Manoel Ignácio de Mendonça Filho, and Presciliano Silva are on display.
Is there a virtual tour available?
Yes, the museum joined Google Arts & Culture in 2020, offering an adapted Google Street View of its interior.
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