The estate was the private residence of Raymundo Castro Maya, a notable industrialist and patron of the arts.
The museum houses a specialized collection of Chinese Export Porcelain dating from the 18th and 19th centuries.
The sculpture garden features works by prominent Brazilian artists, including Lygia Clark and Franz Weissmann.
The site acts as a bridge between the European heritage of the collection and the Brazilian tropical landscape.
The grounds are part of the broader conservation area of the Tijuca National Park, one of the largest urban forests in the world.
Museu do Açude is located within the Tijuca National Park and serves as one of the two units of the Castro Maya Museums in Rio de Janeiro. The museum is housed in the former residence of entrepreneur and art collector Raymundo Castro Maya. The site features an extensive collection of Luso-Brazilian colonial art, porcelain, and antique furniture. Visitors can explore a significant collection of Azulejos, which are traditional Portuguese glazed tiles. The grounds include a large sculpture garden featuring contemporary works integrated into the Atlantic Forest landscape. The estate preserves the architectural style of a mid-20th-century countryside villa. It functions as a cultural space that blends historical interior galleries with outdoor art installations. The museum is surrounded by dense native vegetation, reflecting the collector's original intent to harmonize art and nature.
The elevated sculpture garden terrace with a panoramic view of the forest and the museum architecture.
Wear insect repellent due to the dense forest environment of the Tijuca National Park.
Bring comfortable walking shoes suitable for exploring the hillside paths between the house and the garden.
Attempting to reach the museum on foot from the city center; it is only accessible via vehicle.
Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
Maintain silence inside the galleries and do not touch the art pieces or antique furniture.
