museum · João Pessoa, PB
Estação Cabo Branco – Ciência, Cultura e Artes
Designed by Oscar Niemeyer and opened in July 2008, the complex offers free exhibitions and activities in art, science and technology. It has become one of the city's architectural symbols.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Estação Cabo Branco – Ciência, Cultura e Artes
Estação Cabo Branco – Ciência, Cultura e Artes is a public cultural center in João Pessoa designed by Oscar Niemeyer. It opened in July 2008 on top of the Cabo Branco cliff, between Cabo Branco and Seixas beaches, near the easternmost point of the Americas.
The centerpiece is a disc-shaped tower clad in dark glass, resting on a single white cylinder that rises from a reflecting pool. A curved white ramp winds around the cylinder up to the viewpoint at the top, and the view opens up little by little: the sea, the waterfront and the city. In the late afternoon, the glass reflects the colors of the sky.
The complex brings together several buildings on a large esplanade, with permanent and temporary exhibitions of art, science and technology, an auditorium, an amphitheater and workshop spaces. The collection includes works by artists from Paraíba, such as Flávio Tavares. There are also astronomy activities and a playground with educational play equipment.
Admission is free and the visit appeals to all ages. You reach the viewpoint by the ramp around the tower. You can combine the visit with the Farol do Cabo Branco (lighthouse), which is very close.
Before you go
Practical information
How much time to set aside
1 to 2 hours to see the exhibitions and go up to the viewpoint.
Best time
In the late afternoon, when the low light colors the tower's glass and the view from the viewpoint over the sea is at its best; any time of year, since the heat is constant.
How to get there
It is on Avenida João Cirilo da Silva, in Altiplano Cabo Branco, at the southern end of the city waterfront, near the Farol do Cabo Branco (lighthouse). The easiest way to get there is by car, taxi or ride-hailing app from the Tambaú and Cabo Branco beaches; there is parking on site.
Tip
Check opening hours and events on the official social media before you go, because the viewpoint and some exhibitions may keep their own hours. Bring water and sunscreen: the esplanade has little shade.
A look at the place
Estação Cabo Branco – Ciência, Cultura e Artes in pictures
These pictures are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs. They may differ from the place.
Click the picture to enlarge it.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Estação Cabo Branco – Ciência, Cultura e Artes
Is there an entrance fee at Estação Cabo Branco?
No. Admission is free, including the exhibitions and the viewpoint. Check opening hours on the official social media before you go.
How long does the visit take?
1 to 2 hours is enough to see the exhibitions and walk up the ramp to the viewpoint.
Who designed Estação Cabo Branco?
Architect Oscar Niemeyer. The complex opened in July 2008.
What can you see from the viewpoint?
A 360-degree view over the sea, the Cabo Branco cliff, the waterfront and the city. You get there by a ramp that winds around the tower.
Is Estação Cabo Branco near the Farol do Cabo Branco?
Yes. Both sit on top of the same cliff, at the southern end of the waterfront, and you can visit them on the same outing.