Bank of Brazil Cultural Center

That big building opposite you on the left is the Bank of Brazil Cultural Center. As you can probably tell from the name, this neoclassical beauty wasn’t always about art and culture. Built in 1880 by the imperial architect, it originally housed the stock exchange markets and served as the headquarters of Rio’s commercial association. Fast forward to the 1920s, and it became the head office of the Bank of Brazil, and a symbol of the country’s financial power. But when the capital moved to Brasilia in 1960, so did the bank, leaving this grand building empty. In a bid to protect this historic landmark, the decision was taken to transform it into a major cultural center: the CCBB, that is, the Bank of Brazil Cultural Center. The first CCBB opened in Rio in 1989, followed by another in Brasilia in 2000, another in Sao Paulo in 2001 and then in Belo Horizonte in 2013. The three centers in Rio, Brasilia and Sao Paulo are among the top one hundred most-visited art museums in the world! Indeed, in 2013, over 2 million people visited the CCBB in Rio. Should you choose to visit during your stay, you’ll have the opportunity to explore some 20,000 square meters dedicated to music, theater, cinema and all sorts of exhibits. You’ll also find a library, archives and the Banco do Brasil museum.