The Architecture of Niemeyer - The Niemeyer Path in Niterói

Pay a visit to the space-age Museum of Contemporany Art, designed by the renowned Oscar Niemeyer, then cross the coast to visit the fantastic Santa ... See more

Pay a visit to the space-age Museum of Contemporany Art, designed by the renowned Oscar Niemeyer, then cross the coast to visit the fantastic Santa Cruz da Barra fortress and at last but not least, visit the City Park and get spectacular views of Rio's post cards.

After hotel pick up, you will cross the President Costa e Silva Bridge, commonly known as the Rio–Niterói Bridge. It is a box girder bridge crossing Guanabara Bay which connects the cities of Rio de Janeiro and Niterói. You will take around 20 minutes to cross the bridge.

Then you will take a panoramic tour at a set of cultural facilities and cultural center of great architectural value designed by architect Oscar Niemeyer, in the coastal neighborhoods in the city of Niterói. Better known as Caminho Niemeyer (Niemeyer Path), the complex stretches for 11 km along the edge of the city, from the Downtown to the South Zone. There are several constructions that make Niterói the second city that has more works by what is considered one of the greatest architects in Brazil and in the world, behind Brasilia only. Check out this beautiful path from inside the vehicle until you reach the MAC, where you will descend to visit the Museum of Contemporary Art.

The Museum of Contemporary Art in Niterói includes a program of culture, arts and knowledge. The collection of works by MAC - Niterói is composed of more than a thousand artworks. Among these expressions, the artist Tomie Ohtake and other important names of the artistic movement called Nova Objetividade Brasileira are exemplified.

The museum projects itself over Boa Viagem (“Good Journey”) beach and also a neighborhood, the 817 square metres reflecting pool that surrounds the cylindrical base “like a flower,” in the words of Niemeyer.

The way to our second spot follows the edge of the city, seeing beautiful landscapes. The Santa Cruz Fortress is one of the most visited tourist attractions in Niterói. The guide tells legends, stories and facts related to the Fortress. It is an interesting visit that unites Brazilian history with an incredible landscape. The Fortress' history dates back to the time of Brazil's colonization, when it was necessary to defend the entrance to Guanabara Bay from possible invaders and its construction was started in 1,555 by the french colonizers during their attempted invasion to the region today known as Rio de Janeiro.

The Fortress is built on the “corner” of Guanabara Bay, on a huge rock where, on one side, we have the Bay, and the other side the open sea. You can still see Sugar Loaf Mountain, one of the main postcards of Rio de Janeiro, right in front of you.

Then you will have time for lunch (optional not included) at a famous local restaurant. Known for the personalized service and the delicacies offered in the buffet, the Paludo Gourmet restaurant is “blessed” for its location - with the paradisiacal view of Guanabara Bay, in the São Francisco neighborhood. If you do not want to have lunch at mentioned restaurant or neither have lunch, you can opt to eat somewhere else (guide will suggest you different places) or extend your stay in visited attractions.

At the end, another great place to visit awaits you. Inaugurated in 1976, the City Park of Niterói is an area of environmental protection located in Morro da Viração, whose height is approximately 270 meters. The Park occupies an area of about 150,000 m and is used for the practice of Paragliding Free Flight.

The main ramp facing Guanabara Bay provides a view of the main postcards of Rio de Janeiro, such as the Sugarloaf Mountain, Christ the Redeemer, Pedra da Gávea, Pico da Tijuca, Morro Dois Irmãos, Pedra Bonita, among others.

After visiting the Park, you will get back to the private vehicle and cross the Rio-Niterói Bridge on your way back to Rio de Janeiro. See less