Olá, gente!

Hello, you guys!

Earlier esse ano (this year), we talked about museums in Rio de Janeiro that you shouldn’t miss. Now it’s time for you to get to know the amazing Inhotim.

• palavras-chave/key words: arte (art), museu (museum), contemporânea (contemporary), parque (park), natureza (nature), obra (artwork)

Inhotim (Photo by Marcelo Calazans)

Inhotim is o maior (the largest) open air museum in Latin America, and one of the biggest no mundo (in the world). The Instituto Inhotim (Inhotim Institute), a stunning cultural space where art and nature combine, is a great destination for outdoors lovers.

Situated in the municipality of Brumadinho – about 40 miles from the state capital, Belo Horizonte (see:https://blogs.transparent.com/portuguese/belo-horizonte/), the museum occupies a vast area of cinco mil (5000) acres. The project was envisioned and built in the ‘80s by Bernardo Paz, a successful magnate and businessman in the area of mining and metallurgy, who used to be married to the famous Brazilian artist Adriana Varejão. With the ajuda (help) of the renowned landscaper Roberto Burle Max, Paz turned his estate into a striking jardim botânico (botanical garden) sprawled with galleries and installations, with artworks by influential artists of national and international fame.

Previously a private property, it was only open to public visitation in 2006. Currently, it welcomes about trezentos mil (300 thousand) visitors por ano (per year). As of 2011, Inhotim became a part of the Brazilian government’s official botanical garden association.

The origin of the name: Legend has it that the property used to be uma fazenda (a farm) back in the day. Its former owner was an English man called Timothy. Locals claim that the name was derived from “Mister Tim”, in Portuguese, “Senhor Tim”, or “Nhô Tim”, in the shorter, informal version. Therefore, it generated the word “Inhotim”

Artwork in Inhotim
(Photo by Diego Maia)

The visiting area comprises galleries, pavillions, lagos (lakes), trilhas (trails), hills, forests remarkable for their biodiversity with many different – and sometimes rare – species of flora and fauna. There are around quinhentas (500) art pieces by cem (100) different artists of over trinta (30) nationalities. Their impressive artistic collection includes esculturas (sculptures), pinturas (paintings), desenhos (drawings), fotos (photographs) and videos, many of which are displayed in the natural surroundings of the museum’s area, which makes it such an unique and one-of-a-kind experience. Visitors can walk around, admire and appreciate its great dimensions and even enjoy the piscina (swimming pool) where everyone is free to take a swim.

Inhotim
(Photo by João Diel)

The public can schedule a guided tour with an educator, where they can learn in further detail about botanics and art, and have an overview of the museum.

Opening hours
Tuesday to friday: 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Saturday, sunday and holidays: 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m
The structure also has a restaurants, a bar and uma loja (a shop).

Prices
Tuesdays and Thursdays: R$ 25,00
Wednesdays (except for holidays): free admission
Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays: R$40,00
Closed on Mondays.
Seniors, children and students get half off.

Visit their website para mais (for more) information: http://inhotim.org.br/en/

So, if you’re into art or into nature, or just feel like exploring a fascinating territory, Inhotim is the lugar (place) for you.
Espero que possam ir! Aproveitem o passeio!
I hope you guys can make it! Enjoy the tour!