The Oscar Niemeyer Museum (MON) is housed in a striking complex in the civic centre, the most important element of which is a huge eye-shaped annex sitting on a yellow pillar — unmistakably a Niemeyer design. The museum covers art, architecture, and design, with a rotating programme of temporary exhibitions and a permanent collection of Niemeyer's architectural drawings and models.
The building is as much the attraction as what is inside. The approach up the external ramp, the sweeping views from the top level, and the way the concrete curves create unexpected interior spaces all reward attention. The ground floor café, beneath the eye, is a good place to sit and appreciate the geometry from below. Give yourself a couple of hours, more if you are interested in the architecture.
Address: Rua Marechal Hermes 999, Centro Cívico. Closed Mondays.