Art Gallery of the State of Sao Paulo (Pinacoteca do Estado)

One of Brazil’s most important art museums, the Art Gallery of the State of Sao Paulo (Pinacoteca do Estado) was founded in 1905. Dedicated to 19th- and 20th-century Brazilian art, there are over 8,000 pieces in the Pinacoteca collection, including important works by São Paulo artists Almeida Júnior, Pedro Alexandrino, and Oscar Pereira da Silva. Of particular interest is the section dedicated to iconic Brazilian Modernist art. 
As well as work by Brazilian artists, you’ll see canvases by European artists who were inspired by Brazil and an archive section full of documents relating to art history. In the gardens are 19th-century French sculptures. Based in Parque da Luz, the museum sits in a nice garden area.

Practical Info

At Praca da Luz 2, the Art Gallery of the State of Sao Paulo is right by Luz metro and train station. It's open from Tuesday-Sunday from 10am-5:30pm (closing time at 6pm). On Thursdays, the museum stays open until 10pm, and admission is free from 6-10pm. Admission is also free on Saturdays. Otherwise, entry costs R$6. Audio guides are available in Portuguese, English and Spanish, and there's a museum cafe on the ground floor.