Frommer's Review
The staid old MASP is trying harder. Perhaps because of competition from the Pinocoteca (or because of previous reviews from "Frommers's"?) São Pãulo's big art museum recently re-organized its galleries to give much more space to Brazilian artists. The top floor contains the permanent collection which, as before, contains an excellent selection of Western art, from 14th-century Italian religious imagery to the early-20th-century works of Picasso. Every period and country has a representative sample -- Dutch Rembrandts, English Turners, Spanish El Grecos, and French everythings (Rodin, Renoir, Degas, and Monet). But in one big change, several rooms on this floor are now dedicated to the Brazilian greats, among them Di Cavalcanti and Candido Portinari. Even better, the entire second floor of the MASP is now a temporary gallery, dedicated to changing exhibitions, again of mostly Brazilian artists. The display space is still long and fluorescent lit and kind of warehouse-y, but the art is now worth the trip.
Check Out the Antiques Market--Every Sunday from 10am to 5pm there's an antiques fair in the courtyard beneath the MASP building. Dealers are registered, and the quality is often good. Plus, it's the only time you'll ever find anybody voluntarily occupying that open space.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without
notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before
planning your trip.
