Museu de Arte da Bahia (Bahia Museum of Art), Salvador

One of Bahia’s cultural landmarks since 1918, this museum has called the Vitória Palace home since 1982. Inside, you’ll find 5,000 works of art spanning religious sculptures, paintings, ceramics, photographs, documents, and dazzling glass pieces. The collection also includes Brazilian, Oriental, and European decorative arts, as well as masterpieces by local talents like José Teófilo de Jesus and José Joaquim da Rocha. Moreover, you will find a 12,000-volume library, exhibits of contemporary artists, and even a stately collection of marble statues and 19th-century tiles. With free admission (except during special programs), it’s a history and art lover’s dream at no cost-just bring your curiosity.