Museum
MAM Museu de Arte Moderna
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The Museu de Arte Moderna da Bahia (MAM-BA) is Salvador's modern art museum, set in one of the most beautiful locations of any museum in Brazil, the Solar do Unhão, a restored 17th-century colonial sugar estate right on the edge of the Bay of All Saints. The whitewashed colonial buildings, chapel, and sculpture park frame the modern and contemporary Brazilian art within, and the waterfront setting is simply stunning. The museum is especially famous for 'Jam no MAM,' a long-running Saturday-evening jazz session where crowds gather on the bayside lawns for live music and one of Salvador's best sunsets.
It's a wonderful combination of art, history, and atmosphere, a place to see Bahian modern art and soak up the colonial architecture and sea views. Visit in the late afternoon to enjoy the galleries, the sculpture garden, and the sunset over the bay, and on Saturdays, stay for the jazz.
Don't miss
- The restored 17th-century Solar do Unhão setting
- Modern and contemporary Bahian art
- A bayside sculpture park
- 'Jam no MAM' Saturday jazz sessions
- Spectacular sunsets over the Bay of All Saints
Tickets & tours
Ways to visit MAM Museu de Arte Moderna
You don't need a tour to visit, entry is free. A tour is worth it if you want transport, a guide, or to combine MAM Museu de Arte Moderna with nearby sights in one day. That's what these do well.
Cheapest way inTour Praia do Forte and Guarajuba, Leaving Salvador-Bahia.4.4★ · 108 travelers~8 hoursFree cancellationFrom$39 per personSee dates →
Best full dayPrivate Full-Day African Oriented Salvador Upper & Lower City5★ · 47 travelers7-8 hoursFree cancellationFrom$140 per personSee dates →
Private & flexibleSalvador African Heritage Private City Tour Including Afro Museum4.7★ · 20 travelers~4 hoursFree cancellationFrom$110 per personSee dates →Good for
How travelers rate it
Know before you go
- Saturday evening 'Jam no MAM' brings live jazz and a sunset crowd.
- The colonial Solar do Unhão setting is as much the draw as the art.
- Go late afternoon for the galleries and the bay sunset.
- Take a taxi, the bayside approach is steep.
A bit of history
The Solar do Unhão began as a 17th-century colonial estate and warehouse complex on the bay. In the 1960s it was restored (with interventions by architect Lina Bo Bardi) to house the Museu de Arte Moderna da Bahia, blending colonial heritage with modern art and its celebrated waterfront setting.
Common questions
What is MAM Bahia?
Salvador's Museum of Modern Art, set in the restored 17th-century Solar do Unhão colonial estate on the Bay of All Saints, showing modern and contemporary Bahian art.
What is 'Jam no MAM'?
A long-running Saturday-evening jazz session on the museum's bayside lawns, a beloved Salvador tradition with live music and a famous sunset.
Why is the setting special?
It occupies a beautiful 17th-century colonial sugar estate right on the water, blending whitewashed heritage architecture with modern art and stunning bay views.
When should I visit?
Late afternoon for the galleries and sunset; Saturday evening if you want the jazz.
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