Famous Monuments in Brazil | Most Visited Monuments in Brazil

From exotic wildernesses to bustling, modern mega-cities, Brazil is a land of extremes. The monuments in Brazil like Christ the Redeemer are worth visiting and thousands of tourists come to see this place every year. In terms of landmass, the fifth largest country in the world, including islands, beaches, the Amazon River, the rainforest, untouched archipelagos, and stunning mountain ranges Brazil boasts an unparalleled range of natural treasures, each supporting a rich variety of unique wildlife and flora. The food, architecture, art, and culture of Brazil are rich in tradition and have many exciting surprises in store for visitors. When you next visit this South American country here are the most famous landmarks in Brazil to consider visiting, in order to make sure your visit will be unforgettable.

List of Monuments to Visit in Brazil

1. Teatro Amazonas

An opera house in a city in the middle of the Amazon rainforest, Teatro Amazonas (the Amazon Theatre) is a historic landmark in Brazil located in the rubber town of Manaus. When the building was constructed in 1897, this must-visit the monument in Brazil was an opulent Renaissance Theatre that took almost 20 years to build. Rubber industry barons funded the project and top European architects designed this project, where materials were imported from Europe. The theatre’s opening night, in 1896, was a landmark performance by opera singer Enrico Caruso but about 12 years on the theatre closed and remained shut for 70 years. These days, it’s the home of the Amazonas Philharmonic Orchestra and the venue for an annual festival.

Address: Avenida Eduardo Ribeiro, Centro, Manaus – AM, Brazil.

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2. Corcovado Christ the Redeemer, Rio de Janeiro

Christ The Redeemer is one of the top monuments in Brazil to visit. The soaring statue of Jesus Christ looks down on the city from a 700 m vantage point atop Mount Corcovado. Located in Tijuca Forest National Park, the foundation stone of Christ the Redeemer was laid on 4 April 1922, to commemorate the centennial of Brazil’s independence from Portugal. The statue was built in pieces in France by French sculptor Paul Landowski and shipped to Brazil, where the parts were reconstructed with reinforced concrete by the engineers. It took nine years to complete what would eventually become one of Brazil’s most famous landmarks, finished in 193. Although the colossal statue of Jesus Christ was built as an icon of Christianity, with a chapel underneath the statue, it’s as much a landmark of Brazil and South America. The trip to access Christ the Redeemer on the Corcovado Train to the peak offers fantastic views and, if you’re super fit, you might want to try hiking to the top. Take the train from Cosme Velho Station (departs every half hour). The round-trip train ride is 20 minutes and costs R$56,00 (low season) R$68,00 (high season), including entry to the chapel.

Address: Christ the Redeemer at Parque Nacional da Tijuca, Alto da Boa Vista, Rio de Janeiro – RJ, Brazil.

3. Sugarloaf Mountain

Along with Christ The Redeemer, Sugarloaf Mountain are both recognizable Brazil landmarks. Sugar Loaf Mountain or Pão de Açúcar rises 396m above Guanabara Bay and can be seen from many places in Rio de Janeiro. While visiting Rio, make sure to photograph Sugarloaf Mountain from various corners of the city. Along with Christ The Redeemer, the two famous landmarks in Brazil are icons of Rio de Janeiro. This ancient monument in Brazil is popular with rock climbers and has 270 climbing routes to explore.As you climb, the views of Rio de Janeiro and the Atlantic Ocean sprawl beneath. Two glass-paneled cable cars ascend to the top and offer breathtaking views along the way. Take a cable car from the ground station at Urca in Praia Vermelha (Red Beach) residential area between 8 am and 9 pm (every 20 minutes). Another option is an easy 30-minute hike up to Morro da Urca, where you can board the cable car. The hike through the tropical forest is a fantastic experience. The last cable car leaves the top of the mountain at 7.50 pm.

Address: Parque Nacional da Tijuca, Alto da Boa Vista, Rio de Janeiro – RJ, Brazil 

4. Brazilian Congress Building

The Brazilian Congress building is a national monument in Brazil worthy of being on a postcard. Brazil’s capital is a showcase of edgy architecture, so it’s not surprising that the National Congress of Brazil is nothing short of spectacular. The impressive Oscar Niemeyer-designed building was constructed in 1964 and is an artistic representation of a set of scales. Two towers, which house parliamentary offices, are flanked by two domes, where representatives of Brazil’s 26 states meet. The downward-turned dome sits on the building that houses the Senate while the inverted dome sites over the Chamber of Deputies. There’s a free tour of this Brazilian landmark, which will teach you about history and how the Brazilian government works.

Address: Palácio do Congresso Nacional – Praça dos 3 Poderes, Brasília – DF, 70160-900, Brazil.

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5. Itamaraty Palace

Another Oscar Niemeyer creation, Itamaraty Palace is the headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and a landmark in Brazil that welcomes foreign dignitaries. Constructed using materials sourced only from Brazil, this famous monument in Brazil is a work of art by Brazilian artists and craftspeople. You can tour the palace on an organized tour for free (advanced bookings are required) every day at 9 am, 10 am, 4 pm and 5 pm. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has an impressive art collection housed within the palace.

Address: Zona Cívico-Administrativa BL H – Brasília, DF, 70170-900, Brazil

6. Catedral Metropolitana

Catedral Metropolitana in Brasilia is another futuristic landmark of Brazil. Brasilia’s strikingly futuristic Cathedral is yet another Oscar Niemeyer creation gracing the capital of Brazil. The Metropolitan Cathedral was constructed in 1970 and has 16 concrete columns topped with a glass roof. The design is appropriately symbolic of hands stretching to reach up towards heaven. Not only is it a famous Brazilian landmark, but it’s also one of the most visited as around 1 million visitors pass through the doors of the Cathedral each year. The location of this religious monument in Brazil in the heart of a city that is in the center of Brazil is the seat of the Archdiocese of Brasília and a holy place for Roman Catholics to worship.

Address: Esplanada dos Ministérios lote 12 – Brasília, DF, 70050-000, Brazil

7. Lacerda Elevator

This elevator in Salvador is a historic landmark in Brazil that has become a tourist attraction. The most unique monument in Brazil, the Lacerda Elevator is a public urban elevator in Salvador. The 72m elevator connects two parts of Salvador, the lower city to the upper city, the old town, and the business center. The elevator, which started operating in 1873, is part of Salvador’s public transport system and was originally hydraulic. It was electrified in 1906 and is recognized as a historic landmark in Brazil.

Address: Praça Tomé de Souza, S/N – Centro, Salvador – BA, 40020-000, Brazil.

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8. Escadaria Selarón

Who would have thought a set up of colorful steps would become one of the famous monuments in Brazil? A colorful and quirky set of steps is a fun place to tick off the Brazil monument list. Connecting Joaquim Silva Street and Pinto Martins in Lapus and Saint Teresa, Escadaria Selarón has become an icon of Rio de Janeiro. Who would have thought that covering an old set of steps with fun and interesting tiles would one day attract hundreds of thousands of tourists? A local man Jorge Selarón did this in 1990, to beautify the steps next to his house as a tribute to Brazilians. You’re likely to have seen these steps in movies and films. 

Address:  R. Joaquim Silva, S/N – Centro, Rio de Janeiro – RJ, Brazil.

9. Niteroi Contemporary Art Museum

Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer designed a monument in Brazil symbolizing the rise of futuristic architecture, the Niteroi Art Museum building. This futuristic design looks like a flying saucer landed on the side of a cliff. The Niteroi Art Museum is in a scenic spot across the bay from downtown Rio de Janeiro, with fabulous views of the city. Although it was completed in 1996, this iconic monument in Brazil looks more like a structure you’d see in a science fiction movie, with a 2.7m diameter cylinder anchored in a pool. The museum has three floors and a hexagonal main hall for exhibits.

Address: Mirante da Boa Viagem, s/nº – Boa Viagem, Niterói – RJ, 24210-390, Brazil 

10. Museum of Tomorrow

The Museum of Tomorrow is a building that has become a monument in Brazil. The Museu do Amanhã (Museum of Tomorrow) sounds like it might focus on technology, but it’s devoted to sustainability. Costing 230 million reais (£40m/$59m) to build, the museum advocates the need for change if the earth is to avoid a catastrophic climate disaster. The structure itself makes it a manmade Brazilian monument worth seeing, with a fan-like skylight and solar spines, the aim of the architecture was to allow the building to adapt to fluctuating environmental conditions. Designed by Catalan architect Santiago Calatrava, the building was inspired by bromeliads in the Botanical Gardens. The internal design of the museum, with its whitewashed curves, is a nod to the 1960s.

Address: Praça Mauá, 1 – Centro, Rio de Janeiro – RJ, 20081-240, Brazil.

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11. Metropolitan Cathedral of Rio de Janeiro

One of the most intriguing man-made monuments in Brazil is Rio’s Metropolitan Cathedral. Although construction of the cathedral began in the late 1960s and continued into the 1970s, Rio’s Metropolitan Cathedral is an angular pyramid that looks like it is out of the future. This famous religious landmark in Brazil is a modern place of worship that architect Edgar Fonseca designed with echoes of the pyramids built by the Mayans. The space-age design has tilting walls, a basement museum and ornate doors fashioned out of bronze plaques.  

Address: Av. Chile, 245 – Centro, Rio de Janeiro – RJ, 20031-170, Brazil.

12. Fiscal Island

Built-in 1889, when Dom Pedro II was the Emperor of Brazil when a parliament governed the country, Fiscal Island was a government building for the port authority. The loud colors and neo-gothic palace design located on the shores of Guanabara Bay make it an eye-catching landmark to see when visiting Brazil. This popular monument in Brazil is a reminder that the country was once a monarchy. Between 1645 and 1815, Brazil was a Portuguese colony and the heir to the crown of Portugal was the Prince of Brazil. After independence, Brazil had two monarchs (Pedro I and II), but the monarchy was overthrown by a military coup d’état, which resulted in Brazil becoming a republic. The building was where the last Imperial Ball was held (November 9, 1889).

Address: Avenida Alfredo Agache,  s/n Centro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

13. Bandeiras Monument

Brazil is not short of famous monuments. While in Sao Paulo, you’ll find several in Ibirapuera Park, including the Bandeiras monument. If you ‘re looking down from space, the whole of Ibirapuera Park could be considered the best monument in Brazil itself, as the monuments and museums in the park are impressive. There’s also the futuristic Ibirapuera Auditorium, with its flaming red marquee that sticks out at the entrance and was designed by Oscar Niemeyer and used for concerts. The Monument to the Bandeiras is a massive granite sculpture by Victor Brecheret that greets visitors at the entrance of Ibirapuera Park. It’s one of several sculptures within this São Paulo public park and was completed in 1954. Ibirapuera Park is a green oasis in the city with several museums worth visiting, including the Oca do Ibirapuera, which has excellent dinosaur exhibits, Museum of Modern Art, and Museum of Contemporary Art. Over 10 million visitors come to see this each year. Ibirapuera Park is open from Monday to Friday (5 am to midnight), Saturday and Sunday (4 hours a day.)

Address: Praça Armando de Sales Oliveira – Vila Mariana, São Paulo – SP Brazil.

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All of these mentioned above places are the famous monuments and buildings in Brazil which are very famous throughout South America. All of these monuments often stay crowded with tourists. Hope the post is beneficial to you, kindly check our other articles also if you want to know more about Brazil.

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