Theatro Municipal (Municipal Theatre), Rio de Janeiro (must see)

The Theatro Municipal of Rio de Janeiro was inaugurated in 1909. Located in Cinelandia Square, this beautiful building serves as an opera house and theatre. It is one of the most important theatres in Brazil. Today, most of the productions focus on classical music and ballet performances.

The architectural design was inspired by the Palais Garnier, which was built to house the Paris Opera in France. Brazillian painters and sculptors decorated the Theatro Municipal with fabulous appointments. The exterior has inscriptions bearing the names of classic Brazillian and European artists. A gilded bird watches over the theatre from atop an embellished dome.

The interior is equally spectacular. You'll find priceless artworks, paintings, and sculptures. Eliseu Visconti exquisitely painted the foyer ceiling, nave ceiling, and the frieze on the proscenium.

Tip:
Guided multilingual tours lasting 45 mins are offered Tue-Fri (12pm/2:30pm/4pm) and on Sat (11am/12pm/1pm/4pm). Call ahead to confirm availability of an English-speaking guide. If you want to take the guided tour, try to get there at 10am sharp. Even if you want the 1pm tour, tickets get sold out pretty fast, since the place only supports up to 50 people.