SOUTHEAST BRAZIL - Brazil - page 83

Museu de Art Contemporârnea (MAC-Niterói), hovering like a flying saucer above Boa Viagem

Niterói b
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of hardwood. Also noteworthy
are the wall paintings by
19th-century Dutch artist
Frederico Steckel, and the
tower clock and stained-glass
windows, which were
imported from England.
Ilha Paquetá , north of the
bay, is an oasis of calm
where no cars are allowed.
Ferries and hydrofoils cruise
up the bay to the island
from the Estação das Barcas
in front of the historic Praça
XV. Crossing the bay is the
Rio-Niterói Bridge (officially
the Presidente Costa e Silva
Bridge), which is one of the
longest in the world at 9
miles (13 km). The project
was financed by Britain, and
construction began in 1968
in the presence of Queen
Elizabeth II.
E Espaço Cultural da Marinha
Av Alfredo Agache, Centro.
Tel [phone].

Santa Cruz and the Museu de
Art Contemporârnea (MAC-
Niterói). The Fortaleza de
Santa Cruz (Santa Cruz Fort)
sits on a rocky outcrop just
outside the city, and guards
the entrance to Guanabara
Bay. Parts of the fort date
from the 16th century, when
the French built an impro-
vised fortification to protect
the city. The structure grew
until it became the most
important fortress in Brazil.
It helped protect Niterói from
two invasions, the first of
which came from the Dutch
in 1599, and the second
from the French in 1710.
The stunning Museu
de Art Contemporârnea
(Contemporary Art Museum)
appears to hover above the
neighborhood of Boa Viagem.
The illusion comes from its
slender base pillar, which is
only 30 ft (9 m) in diameter.
Inaugurated in 1996, it
was the brainchild of the
acclaimed Brazilian architect,
Oscar Niemeyer (see p295) .
Its exhibits are based on the
1,000 pieces of Brazilian art
donated by the eminent art
collector, João Sattamini.
The most enchanting
spectacle, however, is
the view from inside the
museum at dusk, when
Rio's lights twinkle from
across the bay.
P

g
www .niteroiturismo.com.br

475,000. @

Cariocas like to joke that
the best thing about Niterói
is its view across the bay to
Rio de Janeiro, and it is true
that the city's popularity has
shown a decline due to its
proximity to Brazil's first
city. Both cities, however,
developed simultaneously,
and as the ferries got faster
and more reliable, Niterói
became a popular residential
option for people working in
downtown Rio.
The British preferred Niterói
to Rio, and in 1872, founded
the Rio Cricket and Athletic
Club that is still active there
today. Praia de São Francisco
in Guanabara Bay is the
city's answer to Copacabana
beach, but for the most part,
is not ideal for swimming.
Niterói's better beaches -
Camboinhas , Itaipu , and
Itacoatiara - lie on the
Atlantic coast, and are very
popular on weekends.
The two most popular
sights in the city are the
imposing Fortaleza de

# noon-5pm

Tue-Sun. 8 7

P Ilha Fiscal
Baía de Guanabara. Tel [phone]
9165. only for tours at 1pm,

2:30pm & 4pm Thu-Sun. & 8
Marina da Glória
Av Infante Dom Henrique, Glória.
Tel [phone].

#

7

Fortaleza de Santa Cruz
Estrada Gaspar Dutra, Jurujuba.
Tel [phone]. # 9am-5pm
Tue-Sun. & 8

E

Museu de Art
Contemporârnea
Mirante da Boa Viagem, Niterói.
Tel [phone].

10am-
6pm Tue-Sun. & 8 7

#

A panoramic view of the Marina da Glória, Baía de Guanabara