The Museu de Arte do Rio opened in 2013 as part of the Porto Maravilha regeneration of Rio's old port district. The building is itself notable: two existing structures — a 1910 neoclassical palace and a 1930s modernist police station — connected by a sinuous concrete canopy that sweeps across both rooftops to create a unified museum. The rooftop walkway offers good views over the port and Guanabara Bay.
The MAR focuses on the history of Rio through art, photography, and urban documentation. The permanent collection covers the city's visual and social history from colonial times through the 20th century; the temporary exhibition programme brings in major Brazilian and international shows. Entry is free on Tuesdays. It is a five-minute walk from the Museu do Amanhã and the two make a natural pairing on a day in the Porto Maravilha district.