Júlio de Castilhos Museum

Júlio de Castilhos Museum is a museum located in the city of Porto Alegre. It is the oldest museum in Rio Grande do Sul state.

WWW museujuliodecastilhos.rs....

Collection

Its collection, over 10 thousand pieces, is Brazilian national heritage, and comprises objects of historical, artistic, ethnographic and archaeological character, mostly related to the history of Rio Grande do Sul. Its sections for the Ragamuffin War and the Paraguayan War are specially rich. The museum also preserves a few but very important examples of sculptures produced within Indian Reductions by Jesuits and indigenous peoples.
In September 2023, a flood damaged a number of the museum's collections. 150 works were restored in the following year.

Historic district controversy

In 2025, a court suspended the planned construction of a 40-story building next to the museum, citing that it would likely damage the building. In response, mayor Sebastião Melo signed a decree to the Law for the Rehabilitation of the Historic Center, updating the regulation. In July 2025, the Association of Friends of the Julio de Castilhos Museum has proposed a lawsuit against the city of Porto Alegre to prevent the building's construction.