Established by Ciccillo Matarazzo in 1948, the Museu de Arte Moderna (MAM) moved across the city several times before finally settling down in Parque do Ibirapuera, São Paulo’s miniature jungle.

The building was designed by the architect and communist revolutionary Lina Bo Bardi, who also designed such abstract and socially-conscious edifices as the MASP and the SESC Pompéia.

The MAM’s exhibitions showcase a mix of national and international art, curated according to interesting themes and issues. Its vernissages are glamorous affairs, attended by guests sometimes so beautifully and exotically adorned that they resemble birds of paradise on a flying visit from Ibirapuera Park.

An ideal place to find inspiration, the MAM is home to a permanent collection that includes such modern classics as the “Composição” by Lygia Clark and “Metaesquema” by Hèlio Oitticica, as well as a fine bookshop and an interesting series of art classes.