Education and Culture of Rio de Janeiro

Although Rio is not Brazil’s largest city, nor its capital, its historical role as the nation’s preeminent urban center makes it the single most important city in the country in terms of education, culture, and the arts.

The city is well endowed with both public and private universities.
Public universities include the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (1920), the State University of Rio de Janeiro (1961), and the University of Rio de Janeiro (1969). Cándido Mendes University Conglomerate (1981), Gama Filho University (1972), Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (1941), and University Santa Úrsula (1938) are all private universities.

Rio contains the National Library, housed in an impressive neoclassical building, and the National Archive.

Another important part of the city’s cultural offerings are its museums, including the National Museum, the Museum of Modern Art, the National Fine Arts Museum, the National Historical Museum, the Museum of the Indian, and the Carmen Miranda Museum.

The Municipal Theater, built in 1905 and modeled on the Paris Opera House, is in the core of the city and is home to Rio’s ballet troupe and opera company.

Architecture is an important component in the city’s landscape.
Religious architecture includes the Convent of San Antonio, which was built in 1608 and is thought to be the oldest religious structure in the city; the Monastery of St. Bento with an impressive Baroque-style chapel; Our Lady of Carmo Church where both Brazil’s emperors were coronated; and Our Lady of Candelária Church, thought by some to be the city’s most beautiful church.

Another building of interest is the Imperial Palace, located several blocks west of Santos Dumont Airport.

Originally constructed as Brazil’s colonial governor’s capitol in 1743, it was converted to the royal palace during the city’s period as an imperial capital. It has recently been restored and now houses a cultural center.

Other impressive 19th-century palaces include Itamaraty and Catete, both located in the city center. The latter was occupied by the country’s presidents between 1896 and 1954 and now houses the Museum of the Republic.

The state legislature meets in the Palácio Tiradentes, formerly the home of the federal assembly when Rio was the nation’s capital.

The city’s architecture from the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries stands in dramatic contrast with its ultramodern Petrobras building, headquarters of the state petroleum company, and the avant-garde Metropolitan Cathedral.

The city’s most famous landmarks are Pão de Açúcar (404 m/1,325 ft), which is situated on a peninsula jutting into Guanabara Bay and is known as Sugar Loaf Mountain in English, and the massive (40 m/131 ft) Christ the Redeemer statue, which overlooks the city from the top of Corcovado Mountain (704 m/2,310 ft) in the Serra da Carioca coastal range.