Hello there! Today we are going to talk about the CCBB in Rio de Janeiro, also known as Centro Cultural Banco do Brasil. Can you believe the place in the picture above was once a bank?
History Behind the CCBB in Rio de Janeiro

In 1920, Bank of Brazil decided to buy a commercial building in downtown Rio de Janeiro to create another branch. It became the most important financial center in Brazil, which lasted 40 years. However, in 1980 the bank of Brazil decided to change the building into a cultural center.
The project was hard, but the bank managed to preserve the original structure of the building and restore the columns, decorations, and intricate details of the construction. In 1989, CCBB was finally opened as a Cultural Center. And that’s what CCBB stands for: Centro Cultural Banco do Brasil (Cultural Center of the Bank of Brazil).
How it Works the CCBB?
As most museums in Brazil, CCBB in Rio is a fantastic opportunity to learn Portuguese while checking out some impressive artwork. Today, CCBB is one of the most important cultural centers in Rio, which very affordable (and sometimes even free) cultural events. CCBB Rio is considered to be the most visited museum in Brazil with 2 million visitors per year!
The building has rooms for exhibitions on the first and second floors. It also has a movie theater with 110 seats on the ground floor, a room with fifty-three seats for the exhibition of videos on the mezzanine and three rooms for theatrical shows. There is also a 90-seat auditorium on the fourth floor and a library on the fifth floor.
Let’s check out some essential information about CCBB for when you visit us in Brazil to study Portuguese:
Working Hours:
Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 9 am til 9 pm.
Tuesdays (closed for maintenance).
Sundays from 9 am til 8 pm.Address:
Rua Primeiro de Março, 66 – Centro, Rio de Janeiro/RJExhibitions and Prices:
If you want to check out the current exhibitions and prices for each of them, check out their programing here.
Online Tour by the CCBB Rio
Come with us and check out this amazing museum in our video! Don’t forget to subscribe to our Youtube channel to watch more video Dicas!
Do you have anything like it in your country? If you’re willing to visit CCBB in Rio de Janeiro someday, come with us on our Downtown Walking Tour RioLIVE!
We’ll be waiting for you! Bye!
Click in the links below to see more related Dicas
City in Portuguese
Public Institutions in Brazil
Uruguaiana Market in Rio de Janeiro
History of Rio de Janeiro
Online Academic Coordinator at Rio & Learn Portuguese School.
Experienced educational coordinator and teacher since 2007, adept in curriculum development, creating physical and digital educational materials, and leveraging online platforms to enhance learning outcomes