The Museu de Favela (MUF) is a community-based territorial museum created in 2008 by residents and cultural leaders from the Pavão, Pavãozinho and Cantagalo favelas. Here, the living collection is made up of the people, their memories and their ways of life.
Located on the slopes of the Cantagalo Massif, between Ipanema, Copacabana and Lagoa, the MUF encompasses thousands of homes, alleys and stairways that contain stories of the city rarely seen on postcards. This museum-territory is home to a rich cultural heritage, panoramic views of Rio de Janeiro — the "Marvelous City" — and the Open-Air Art Gallery: the Casas-Tela Circuit, featuring murals and artistic gateways that tell the communities' stories through images and verses. Since November 2024, the circuit has gained five new artworks celebrating local cultural expressions and important figures from the community. Artistic plaques have also been installed at strategic locations to highlight the importance of partner institutions and community solidarity.
MUF also has a headquarter that serves as the operational base for its activities. Fully renovated, it brings together physical and digital environments, collections, virtual-reality experiences, an immersive room and an interactive game. The venue offers approximately 1,700 m² of new space, with long-term and temporary exhibitions, an auditorium and sweeping views of Rio de Janeiro. Come and experience this new chapter with us!
You can visit the Museu de Favela's indoor exhibition space at its headquarters, or explore the Casas-Tela Circuit through the streets of the Pavão, Pavãozinho and Cantagalo favelas.
Address: Rua Alberto de Campos, 12, 4th floor — State Government Multiservice Complex, Ipanema, Rio de Janeiro, RJ
A 1,700 m² venue featuring new space for long-term and temporary exhibitions, immersive technology experiences, an auditorium and sweeping views of Rio de Janeiro.
Guided routes through the community's streets and narrow lanes, passing the Casas-Tela — graffiti-painted façades that together form a large open-air urban art gallery portraying residents' memories, customs and collective strength.
See the routes and book a visitIndoor exhibition space · exhibitions · digital experiences
MUF's long-term exhibition, “Um Despertar de Almas e de Sonhos” (“An Awakening of Souls and Dreams”), is organized around three main themes — Territory, People and Art — revealing different dimensions of life in the favela, its cultural expressions and the strength of its stories. Visitors can, for example, encounter a recreation of an early local wattle-and-daub home and discover powerful works by four artists from Pavão, Pavãozinho and Cantagalo. Five multimedia totems also present the stories of ten residents who left their mark on favela life, as well as memories of samba through photographs and clothing.
Um Despertar de Almas e de Sonhos (An Awakening of Souls and Dreams)
The MUF headquarter is located on the 4th floor of the Government of the State's Multiservice Complex building (known as CIEP João Goulart), in Ipanema. Check out the access options below:
Via Rua Alberto de Campos 12 (Ipanema) – Access only Monday to Friday (this route does not pass through the favela territory):
Via Rua Sá Ferreira – corner with Av. Nossa Senhora de Copacabana - Access from Monday to Saturday (this route passes through the main street of the Cantagalo favela territory):
Open-air museum · routes through the territory · guided tours with local guides
Use the filter to view visit options for tourists, schools, and researchers/university groups. Click “Schedule a visit” to submit your request.
A route through the Casas-Tela located on the Pavão hillside, focusing on stories of memory, identity and resistance shared by the families who live in this territory.
R$ 100 per person — guided visit in Portuguese
R$ 180 per person — guided visit in English, French, Italian or Spanish
Recommended for groups of up to 5 people.
The visit begins at Portal do Amor Perfeito and continues uphill via stairways, passing five Casas-Tela paintings, a century-old veranda and a viewpoint with panoramic views.
Schedule a visitA walking route through Cantagalo, passing Casas-Tela works that tell stories of migration, popular culture, the struggle for housing and community organizing.
R$ 100 per person — guided visit in Portuguese.
R$ 180 per person — guided visit in English, French, Italian or Spanish.
CANTAGALO: The visit begins at the large staircase, one of the access points to Cantagalo, Pavão and Pavãozinho.
The first stop is Portal da Saint Roman.
The route then continues through alleys and narrow lanes, passing 10 Casas-Tela paintings.
The route also includes three viewpoints along the way.
Schedule a visitA route designed for academic groups and researchers, offering an in-depth look at MUF's methodologies, collections, archives and memory policies.
Understanding Museu de Favela.
A technical visit for researchers and university groups, tailored to the group's areas of interest. The entry is via Rua Alberto de Campos, 12. The route begins in the Elevator Hall and continues to the territory, visiting Casas-Tela 1, 2 and 3 in Cantagalo.
Back at MUF's Operational Base, the group takes part in a guided presentation of the collection. The visit concludes with a discussion circle on the “MUF Way of Musealizing”, connected to the participants' fields of research.
R$ 50 per person — guided visit in Portuguese.
R$ 130 per person — guided visit with a language interpreter.
Schedule a visitA Casas-Tela circuit in Cantagalo or Pavão, with guided interpretation focused on memory, identity and the territory 's cultural expressions.
At the end of the route, the group takes part in an artistic performance or workshop.
Rates: 1 to 3 people — R$ 300 per person (Brazilian visitors) · R$ 380 per person (international visitors).
Groups of 4 or more — R$ 220 per person (Brazilian visitors) · R$ 300 per person (international visitors).
Bilingual guide available. Advance booking is required and subject to confirmation by the MUF team.
Schedule a visitComplete the form below and our team will get back to you with booking confirmation, rates and additional information.
